… As USAID approves US$30 Million for ODF activities in 5 counties
LIBERIA – Despite efforts by Liberia’s Development Partners to improve the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector of the country, the government under President George Weah has proven to have no interest in the WASH sector.
The lack of interest by the Weah government in the sector is so glaring that sector actors especially WASH experts and CSOs have expressed serious concern about the form and manner in which the government is responding to the issue of WASH.
It can be recalled that the Open Defecation Free Road Map Document was presented to the president by the National WASH Commission through Environmental Protection Agency boss, Prof. Wilson Tarpeh last November awaiting the president’s signature.
“November 19 this year is one year since the document was sent to the Executive Mansion for perusal and signing, a WASH CSO actor”, George Kayah said.
According to Mr. Kayah, the road map document addresses a lot of issues surrounding Open Defecation and how OD can be properly handled by the government and people.
The WASH CSOS Network of Liberia Secretary-General noted that the government lacks the political will to ensure that water, sanitation, and hygiene which are basic human rights issue is addressed.
“When quizzed about the faith of the ODF Road Map Document the Chairman of the National WASH Commission, Amb. Bobby Whitefield will inform the sector the President’s advisors are still perusing the document, Kayah noted”.
Some of the crafters of the document have expressed frustration about the delay in the signing of the ODF Road Map Document.
They believe that the President is not given the proper information about the document and what Liberia stands to benefit from.
“There are a lot of benefits associated with this document that will inform the decision of the government in addressing several issues relating to water, sanitation, and hygiene,” George Nyarngo, former Assistant Minister for Community Services, Ministry of Public Works.
Mr. Nyarngo noted that the need for the signing of the document by the President can not be over-emphasized.
The former Assistant Minister for Community Services, admonished the President’s advisors to encourage him in signing the ODF document.
Several other WASH CSO actors have also expressed dismay over the money taken from the budget of the WASH Commission for government to attend the UN Conference.
The CSOs asserted that the action on the part of the government to take away money allotted to the commission is a clear indication that the Weah government has no interest in the hardship faced by ordinary Liberians when it comes to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
“With the approval of the funding by USAID to carry on the Open Defecation Road Map Document activities in 5 counties and the delay by the president to sign the document questions the commitment on the part of the government to end Open Defecation”, the WASH actors noted.
The USAID US$30 million funding to end open defecation targets Lofa, Bong, Bassa, Cape Mount, and rural Montserrado Counties.
