In 2017, Asutifi North District Assembly (ANDA) and its key development partners launched a master plan containing a broad vision, programmes and strategies for the implementation of a 13-year initiative called the Asutifi North District Ahonidie Mpontuo (ANAM).
Informed by guidelines of the National Development Planning Commission of Ghana (NDPC), and framed within targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, the initiative is promoting universal access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene services to about 84,423 people by the year.
So far through the efforts of partners, about 90% of the citizens have access to improved water services, all health care facilities have basic water services, 33% having access to basic sanitation and 75% of schools provide basic water services.
Under the partnership is Netcentric Campaigns a non-profit organisation founded in 2000 and mobilises advocacy networks among people to catalyse change. To establish the goal of equipping people of the district with training and resources, align them around a common vision,
and tackle complex WASH-related issues, Netcentric together with ANDA established a WASH Desk.
The desk, composed of a WASH Desk officer who oversees all WASH- related activities, customer support assistants whom receive and record all complaints by walk-ins, phone calls, etc and other
interns through regular radio and information centres programs, community engagements, workshops, etc connects people together, amplify their voices so their needs are heard and by authorities and international partners. These are done with the goal of making leaders and international partners know and understand directly the needs and work together under the people’s leadership to deliver those services.
The District Chief Executive, Hon. Anthony Mensah during a visit to the district by a team from Netcentric said, “Netcentric has bridged the communication gap that existed between the Assembly and the people through the establishment of the WASH desk, with empowered personnel managing it”.
“I believe it will important to set updesks dedicated to any project we start here moving forward”, he added.
Executive director of Netcentric Campaigns, Martin Kearns speaking on the expansion of the initiative to three new districts in Ahafo region said, “we are very excited to go from Asutifi North to half the million people in the Ahafo region and I’m very excited to be able to serve more people”