Plan International Ghana has officially launched Phase 2 of its Integrated Package for Sustainable Community Development (I-PADEV 2) Project, committing €1.3 million over the next three years to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in selected communities in the Oti and Upper West Regions.
The project, which will run until 2028, is expected to benefit about 50,000 children, girls and community members by creating safer and healthier environments, particularly in schools.
Speaking to journalist after the launch, the Programmes Manager of Plan International Ghana, Eric Ayaba, said the initiative is designed to ensure that participating communities have access to safe water, improved sanitation facilities and proper hygiene practices to support children’s development.
“This project is aimed at ensuring that participating communities have access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities, and a healthy hygiene environment that supports children’s development, particularly in education. The project is committing about 1.3 million euros over the next three years, ending in 2028, to achieve its intended outcomes. It is expected that about 50,000 children, girls, and community members will benefit within the period of implementation,” he said.
He explained that the project will cover about 16 communities in the Oti Region, specifically in the Guan District, and in the Upper West Region, particularly in the East District, with support from government agencies, local implementing partners and key sector networks.
On the possibility of extending the intervention to other deprived areas, Mr. Ayaba noted that although sanitation challenges remain widespread across the country, beneficiary communities were selected through careful assessment and clear criteria.
“We fully understand that sanitation remains a major challenge across several parts of the country, especially in very deprived communities. Various methodologies were used in selecting the beneficiary communities. We assessed water safety, sanitation-related challenges and diseases, as well as the general hygiene situation before determining which communities should benefit. While we acknowledge that many other communities are facing serious sanitation difficulties, this is a gradual process,” he explained.
He added that the first phase of the project focused on communities in the North East Region and parts of the Oti Region, and expressed optimism that successful implementation of the current phase would attract additional funding to support more communities in the future.
“For the first phase, we focused on communities in the North East Region and in the Jasikan area of the Oti Region. This second phase is again supporting communities in the Oti Region, particularly in the Guan District, as well as communities in the Upper West Region. We are hopeful that if we successfully implement this project, we will be able to attract additional funding so that other communities facing similar challenges can also benefit in the future,” he added.
Plan International Ghana believes that with sustained partnership and commitment from stakeholders, the I-PADEV Phase 2 Project will significantly improve water and sanitation conditions and contribute to better health and educational outcomes for children in the beneficiary communities.
By Bawa Musah
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