Africa-Press – Ghana. Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)-focused organisation, has been installed as a Development Queenmother in the Bongo Traditional Area.
With the skin name “Kosom Pognaba” (Queenmother of Potable Water), she was honoured for leading the implementation of WaterAid Ghana’s strategic plan to ensure universal access to potable water and other WASH-related needs in the Bongo District.
Through the strategic plan, Bongo has been adopted as a model district for WaterAid Ghana, working closely with local government structures, traditional authorities, residents, and development partners to ensure every household has access to potable water.
To this end, the organisation is not only providing water infrastructure for communities, institutions, and public spaces, but is also collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the treated water from the Vea Dam is redirected to serve the people of Bongo.
This forms part of a wide range of measures aimed at permanently addressing the high fluoride concentration in underground water in Bongo, a challenge that has affected residents for decades.
Additionally, WaterAid Ghana has launched a sanitation challenge in the district, working with traditional authorities to sensitise communities about the dangers of open defecation and mobilising them to eliminate the menace.
The initiative has also led to the establishment of a Sanitation Fund to support poor and vulnerable households to construct toilet facilities, thereby contributing to the fight against open defecation and promoting environmental cleanliness.
Bonaba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, said the installation was well-deserved due to the immense contributions of WaterAid Ghana to improving the quality of life of the people.
“Water is life, and without water, we cannot achieve any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For WaterAid Ghana to support us to achieve universal access, we have nothing to offer her than to honour her,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Traditional Council’s commitment to collaborating with development partners, particularly WaterAid Ghana, to address WASH-related challenges, especially water availability, to enhance livelihoods.
“You are now one of my queenmothers and subjects, and I urge you to carry Bongo with you wherever you go and continue to advocate for more development for us,” he added.
Pognaba Christiana Nge, Paramount Queenmother of the Bongo Traditional Area, who performed the installation rites, noted that women and girls were the most affected in areas without potable water.
She pledged her support toward ensuring access to water at all levels.
At the same ceremony, Ms Lee Eun Mi, now known as Awinbono Salifu through naturalisation as a Ghanaian, Managing Director of Divine World Mission, was also installed as “Tinsongre Pognaba” (Queenmother of Community Development) for her contributions to community empowerment, especially for women and girls.
In addition to providing educational, agricultural infrastructure, and tools to enhance rural farming activities, Divine World Mission and its partners have also built three technical and vocational centres, training young girls and women in various trades, especially smock and cloth weaving.
The installation of the two queenmothers also signified their integration into the traditional area and would be key in decision-making processes, especially regarding issues in their field.
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