World Water Day marked across the country

Water is life

Today, March 22, is World Water Day and the focus for this year's celebration is "Water and Urbanization." 

The objective of World Water Day 2011 (WWD 2011) is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems.

The focus of this year's celebration, underscores the severity of the impacts of urbanization on urban water management. Statistics collated by the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication indicate that: Half of humanity now live in cities and, within two decades, nearly 60% of the world's population will be urban dwellers.

Urban growth is most rapid in the developing world, where cities gain an average of 5 million residents every month.

A lack of safe drinking water and sanitation results in faecal-oral diseases such as diarrhea and outbreaks of malaria and cholera.

According to the compiled data, based on findings of research undertaken by focal persons of the Sustainable Water management, Improved Cities, Tomorrow's City Health (SWITCH) programme, being implemented in 33 countries including Ghana, currently about: 141 million urban dwellers worldwide do not have access to improved drinking-water, and One out of four city residents, 794 million in total, live without access to improved sanitation facilities.

The question then is should the day be celebrated in the country?

The Policy Manager of Water Aid Ghana, Mr. Ibrahim Musah has said that the day should not be celebrated and that, the focus should rather be on how water problems will be solved in the country.

He called on Government to provide the required financial investment for the water sector.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Vida Afum-Dutie from the Tripple-S Ghana, said the country should celebrate the little achievement it has obtained and added that in order to celebrate it stock should be taken to know what had been done and the way forward.

She appealed to the Government to increase sector financing.

Don’t Sweep Human Right Abuse Cases Under the Carpet

Ghanaians have been urged to report any case of human right abuse to the appropriate

The appeal was made by the Mfantsiman Municipal Director of CHRAJ at Saltpond today when interacting with Yes News.

According to Madam Patience Essieny, at least two people report cases of human right abuse to her office each day.

She added that the most reported form of human right abuse is child maintenance which got to do with couples trying to shirk each others responsibilities.

Madam Essieny noted that most Ghanaians are afraid or hesitant to report to the CHRAJ when their rights are trampled upon.

She explained that her outfit is trying hard to educate Ghanaians on their rights. Madam Essieny said, it is unfortunate whenever they organize public education, the youth who are the most vulnerable, fail to turn up leaving the old ones.

She advised Ghanaians to respect each others human right for growth and development of the nation.

Oxfam still stands by its dummy report

The UK based International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Oxfam, says it still stands by its report on Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The report says, the scheme is poorly managed and gives just a limited number of people access to health care, adding that the majority of registered beneficiaries still pay for the services under the NHIS.

The Deputy Head of Corporate Communications of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ametor Kwame says the scheme covers 68% of the population much more than what Oxfam report claims.

Meanwhile, Government officials have dismissed the report describing it as misleading.

Fishermen in Elmina Complain Over the Ban of Light Fishing

Some fishermen at Elmina

The Secretary to the Chief Fisherman in Elmina, Mr. Robert Mensah, has expressed worry over the ban of the use of light for fishing.

He said the ban on the light fishing is affecting their businesses and appealed to the Government to give them an alternative, since the use of the light during fishing is not the only item that is prohibited in fishing.

Report says patrols have been intensified over the last few weeks over light fishing and that officers chased fishermen who were using lights to fish on the high seas.

Meanwhile, the Central Regional Police Commander, DCOP Andoh Kwofie, says police will continue to be present at the various beaches to ensure that fishermen will not use ban equipments during fishing.