Communities across the Volta Region continue to face serious water and sanitation problems, with many residents depending on unsafe sources such as rivers, streams, and rainwater for domestic use.
In some towns, abandoned refuse sites have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, heightening the risks of malaria, diarrhoea, cholera, and other waterborne diseases.
It was against this backdrop that the Community Focus Foundation, in collaboration with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, convened the Volta Water and Sanitation Dialogue in Ho. The meeting was designed to identify local challenges and propose practical, sustainable strategies to improve water and sanitation delivery in the region.
The dialogue drew together a wide range of participants, including Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and development partners.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the Community Focus Foundation, Richard Kasu, described the gathering as an important step toward solutions. He gave an assurance that the outcomes would be followed through to help improve conditions in the region.
The Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Edem Kofi Kpotosu, stressed the need for shared responsibility in managing waste. He said residents must be encouraged to pay for the waste they generate as a way of reducing indiscriminate dumping and promoting better hygiene.
For his part, the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, called for the dialogue to move beyond speeches and communiqués. He urged stakeholders to commit to concrete actions backed by accountability, with the aim of ensuring that every household, school, and community in the region gains access to clean water and safe sanitation.
