WaterAid Chief Executive visits Sabon Zongo

Barbara Frost (centre) during her visit to Sabon Zongo with members of the community.

Credit: WaterAid / Emmanuel Addai

By Rose Adisenu-Doe

Barbara Frost, Chief Executive of WaterAid, recently made a working visit to Sabon Zongo, a deprived urban slum in Accra. Other WaterAid representatives accompanied Barbara, including Jeremy Pelczer, Chair, Board of Trustees; Girish Menon, Director of International Operations; and Idrissa Doucoure, Head of West Africa. They were welcomed by Stephen Ntow, Country Representative of WaterAid Ghana, and other local staff.

The visit to Sabon Zongo was part of Barbara's first official trip to WaterAid Ghana as Chief Executive. The delegation had the opportunity to learn firsthand the state of water and sanitation facilities and appreciate the challenges, complexities, and excitement surrounding the Water for African Cities project site.

After initial discussions with Mr Gyimah, Acting Director of Ablekuma Central Sub-Metropolitan Assembly, and members of the project's community development committee, the delegation walked through areas of the community. They saw blocked drains and pools of waste water, and met with school children who showed the roof of their school building ridden with holes.

As part of the tour, the WaterAid representatives met with opinion leaders in the community. Local leaders expressed concern with a perceived delay in starting the construction of the water and sanitation facilities. Country Representative Stephen Ntow urged the community to be patient, as key studies and consultations with all stakeholders needed to be completed before construction begins. He also explained that the designs of the facilities must meet the needs of all, especially the disabled and socially excluded. 

Barbara and other members of the delegation encouraged all members of the community to continue their participation in the project. She gave them hope that it would be implemented in full, despite delays. Jeremy Pelczer reminded the project team that they must be clear when managing the community's expectations.

Later in the day, the delegation took part in an urban forum to share experiences on Water for African Cities. In attendance were major sector players including the Water Resources Commission (WRC), the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and private sector practitioners.