Water and Sanitation Journalist Network launched

GWJN members and dignitaries at the launch.

Credit: WaterAid

The Ghana Watsan Journalist Network (GWJA), has been officially launched with support from WaterAid Ghana at a short, memorable event attended by major sector players under the theme, 'the role of the media in Ghana's water and sanitation agenda'.

The event was honoured by the newly appointed minister of Water Resource Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo. In his first public speech as a minister, Mr Abongo urged media practitioners to monitor and evaluate the implementation of water, sanitation and hygiene plans and policy.

According to the Mr Abongo, this will strengthen political commitment and raise the profile of WASH in the context of poverty reduction.

Mr Abongo pledged government commitment to make itself readily available to the media, in order for them to monitor government activities with respect to water, sanitation and hygiene.

The GWJN was formed by a group of journalists interested in reporting on water sanitation and hygiene in 2008. The co-ordinator of GWJN, Ms Nana Aba Anamoah, a broadcaster with a local TV station TV3, reiterated their commitment to increase the quality of coverage of the WASH sector. She said the network will do this by building their capacity on sector issues, institutions and engage widely with key sector issues, citizens and donors.

Ms Anamoah added that the role of the media in setting the agenda for social change is crucial and the network will dedicate itself to reporting the stories in a fair and objective manner. She thanked the WaterAid Ghana for supporting the formation of GWJN.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Country Representative of WaterAid, Stephen Ntow said the organisation considers the media as critical partners in its global mission to influence policy in favour of poor and the marginalised people. Mr Ntow said WaterAid Ghana will continue to assist the media to gain a better understanding of sector issues.

He also urged GWJN to also include hygiene in their reportage since their name suggests an emphasis on water and sanitation.

There were solidarity messages from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and the Ghana Journalist Association.
 
Delivering his solidarity message, the Executive Secretary of CONIWAS Patrick Apoya said the formation of network is strategic because there are still some critical issues that require media attention. He said that, in addition to advocating for improved service delivering in the sector, the media needs to start addressing WASH as a human rights issue and track funding for the sector.

The inauguration saw the participation of the Ministry of Water Resource Works and Housing, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and heads of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, CONIWAS, the Water Sector Monitoring Platform, the Ghana Journalist Association, the Water Resource Commission, UNICEF as well as other key sector players.

The inauguration was concluded with a sensitisation workshop to give an overview of the WASH sector to the GWJN members.