[ 2021-02-05 ]

Ghana, Denmark, UNICEF launch COVID-19 response partnership

Accra, Feb. 05, GNA - The Government of Ghana, the
Embassy of Denmark and the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF), have launched a
partnership to support Ghana’s COVID-19
response.

A statement issued by UNICEF, copied to the Ghana
News Agency, said .

Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Representative of
the President at the Ministry of Sanitation and
Water Resources, received, Mr Tom Nørring, the
Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, and Madam
Anne-Claire Dufay, the UNICEF Representative in
Ghana, and their teams to mark the launch of a
partnership to support the national COVID-19
response by the Government of Ghana.

It noted that the DKK35 million (or $5.6 million)
partnership was expected to complement and expand
the scope of the overall sustainable recovery
plans as set out by the Government of Ghana.
The statement said the 12-month project, which
would concentrate on between six and eight
low-income and high-density urban communities in
two regions, Greater Accra and Ashanti, would
support four main areas.

These include; increasing access to water,
sanitation and hygiene through sustainable
infrastructure and taking measures to prevent and
control infections, including positively
influencing hygiene and health behaviors by
vulnerable communities.

The statement said the partnership would also
support community-led engagement and plan
approaches to better direct services, and promote
best practices to prevent the transmission of
COVID-19.

It said it would also focus on scaling up support
to prevent and address sexual and gender-based
violence, particularly through courts and judicial
services; and encouraging the private sector
participation in the reduction of potential
vulnerabilities, including through the provision
of low-cost sanitation.

Madam Dapaah said: “As Ghana records an
increasing number of COVID-19 cases, resilient
water, sanitation and hygiene facilities become
even more essential as we seek to curtail the
spread of the coronavirus, and to achieve Ghana's
longer-term goals to be Open Defecation Free, and
to provide potable water to all Ghanaians."

“The Government of Ghana is delighted to see the
commencement of this 12-month UNICEF and Embassy
of Denmark project, and the Ministry of Sanitation
and Water Resources is looking forward to close
cooperation to realize our goals.

“On behalf of the Government of Ghana, I thank
the Government of Denmark and UNICEF for this
partnership and we look forward to working with
you on this important project.”

Mr Nørring stated: "After almost 60 years of
close cooperation between Ghana and Denmark, it is
important for Denmark and me personally as
Ambassador to Ghana to show solidarity during
these difficult times of the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the needs to reduce the
spreading are becoming even more evident, and it
will be paramount to take all necessary steps to
secure the health and livelihood of the people of
Ghana.

“Strong community resilience and awareness, and
improved access to water and sanitation have again
proven to be crucial - not least in the large
cities where people are working and living
closely.

"This project, that we are launching today, aims
at supporting and underpinning the tireless work
done by the Government of Ghana to manage the
pandemic by expanding water access and hygiene
practices in deprived urban areas.

"This also demonstrates the already existing tight
bonds with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water
Resources.

"And we are of course very pleased to team up with
UNICEF in these efforts as we do so in many other
places in the world.

“From our side we will do our utmost to make
this cooperation, but also our other partnerships
in the area of water and wastewater management, a
success. Building on many years of innovation and
learnings, Denmark has strongholds in sustainable
solutions and technologies in the water sector,
and I really encourage and hope to see more public
and private partnerships in the water sector.”

Madam Dufay added: “The most vulnerable children
and families in urban areas are facing the brunt
of primary and secondary impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic.

“This programme will support the Government in
the provision of safe, running water and adequate
handwashing with soap facilities, as well as
strengthened community health planning.

"We are ensuring the strong engagement of
communities, which is essential to address the
needs of the most marginalized and have a positive
impact. ”More child-friendly gender-based
violence courts will also benefit vulnerable women
and children.

She commended the Government of Ghana for its
unremitting efforts to protect the population
against COVID-19 and thank the Government of
Denmark for the strategic partnership.

“Within the framework of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and
the Socio-Economic Response and Recovery Plan
(SERRP), this programme will complement the
efforts of all UN Agencies in Ghana to support the
Government in ensuring sustainable and resilient
recovery from the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic,” Madam Dufay, added.

Source - GNA

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