ACCRA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo signed a presidential compact on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) late Wednesday, committing to an annual allocation of 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to achieve universal access to these services and improve public health, according to a press release.
The compact follows extensive consultations with government agencies, development partners, academics and civil society organizations. It is part of the government's commitment to enhancing public health, increasing climate resilience, and ensuring that even hard-to-reach communities receive essential WASH services.
Akufo-Addo announced that the annual funding will continue through 2030, aiming to provide WASH services to schools, healthcare facilities and remote areas.
"The journey we are embarking on is based on the fundamental truth that without WASH services, sustainable development will remain an elusive dream," the president said.
The compact also underscores Ghana's ongoing efforts to ensure every citizen, regardless of their location, has access to sustainable WASH services. As part of the initiative, Ghana will establish a National Sanitation Authority to support the government's goal of eliminating open defecation by 2030, building climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, and addressing challenges such as flooding and drought. ■
