World Water Day is an annual United Nations (UN) observance day held on 22 March that highlights the importance of fresh water. The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of each year focuses on topics relevant to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6.
In line with this, the ANMA WASH team outlined three(3) major activities to mark this year’s anniversary under the theme “Glacier Preservation”. Glacier are critical to life – their meltwater is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production and healthy ecosystems.
On Friday 21st March, 2025, the WASH team held a Radio talk show on Genesis Fm to create public awareness on the significance of the day, the need to protecting and preserving our water bodies for a sustainable water supply.
The Municipal Planning Officer, Mr Emmanuel Quartey Jnr. elaborated on the human activities that affects rainfall pattern and water bodies. Indiscriminate used of chemicals for fishing causes harm to aquatic life and hinders water supply, he added.
Dumping of refuse in drain and in water ways and illegal mining also affects water bodies.
Mrs Rejoyce Ntiamoah , the Municipal Environmental Health Officer cautioned the public to uphold the protection of water bodies around the region and Ghana as a whole.
The WASH team then proceeded to Kasapin to engage the community members, Opinion Leaders and Chiefs through a community durbar.
The WASH team, led by the WASH Desk Officer, Mr. Shakron Lamini after a warm reception by the people of Kasapin, called for action
to commit to protecting the forests, not just for themselves, but for future generations. By working together, we can ensure that these vital ecosystems thrive and continue to provide the benefits they offer to all of us.
Through this engagement, community members understood the role our forest play in stimulating the rainfall pattern. Community members were made to understand the adverse effects that deforestation and illegal lumbering posses on the rainfall pattern.Trees play a crucial role in the water cycle through evapotranspiration. Deforestation reduces this process, leading to less moisture in the air hence lower rainfall, he added.
Finally on Saturday 22nd March, 2025, the WASH team climaxed the World water Day celebration with the members of the United Hairdressers Association in Goaso. The team led by Miss Agyeiwaa Hamdella addressed the Association on the importance of celebrating world water day, the need to preserve our water bodies and the negative human activities that affects rainfall and water bodies in our communities. The two day activities outlined to celebrate the world water day went ahead to stimulate human behavioral pattern to curtail destruction of water bodies. Protecting preserving water bodies is a collective responsibility for a sustainable water supply.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the forestry and Water Resources commissions who also shared their taughts on the significance of the day. The toll free number was introduced in all the events and new members recruited to the network.