Foto4change, ActionAid Ghana mark World Water Day with call for urgent intervention

Foto4change, ActionAid mark World Water Day with call for urgent intervention

The alarming depletion of the Bilpiela Dam in Tamale has brought renewed attention to the growing water crisis and its disproportionate impact on women and girls.

This came to light during a photography exhibition organized by Foto4change in partnership with ActionAid Ghana to mark this year World Water Day celebration at the dried-up dam site.

Held on the theme “Water and Gender — Her Water, Her Power: Advancing Gender-Just Climate Solutions,” the event underscored the urgent need for equitable access to clean water and sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities.

Delivering the keynote address, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Elliot Haruna Alhassan, said water scarcity continued to place a heavy burden on women and girls.

He noted that many young girls travel long distances daily in search of water, often affecting their education and well-being.

Prof. Alhassan called on Non-Governmental Organisations, government and stakeholders to intensify efforts towards addressing water challenges in affected communities.

Md. Madam Beatrice Biije, the Northern Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting gender justice and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

She called on authorities to prioritize the provision of access to portable water as a basic human right for the people especially women and children who are always at the frontline of water scarcity which have to walk miles and spend hours to get water for household activities.

She also said, the celebration of the World Water Day is to raise awareness on water challenges and promote sustainable management of water resources and we are happy to partner with Foto4Change for the second year in commemorating it. 

The Programmes Director of the Afram Plains Development Organization and chairperson for Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyami, expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the dam and advocated environmental restoration measures, including tree planting.

She commended ActionAid and foto4chage for the initiative and called for greater collaborations to order to address the situation.

She later, donated several AquaTabs to support safe household water treatment for the women in the programs as a form of support towards the celebration.

Mr Alhassan Mohammed Suali, the Physical Planning Officer at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, said plans were underway to rehabilitate the dam to improve water access in the area.

The Team Lead of Foto4change, Mr. Geoffrey Buta, emphasized the role of photography in advocacy, describing it as a powerful tool for documenting realities and influencing policy on critical issues such as water and climate change.

He said, the only way to make people believe what is happening on the ground is by showing what is happening, that’s why we brought you all here to the dam to see the reality, he added. 

Another highlight of the event was the historical account of the dam by Nyorinlana Alhassan Nabila, who traced its origins to the World War II era, when a natural spring later developed into a major water source for Tamale and surrounding communities.

He attributed its current state to years of overuse and environmental neglect, and called for urgent restoration.

Written by Geoffrey Buta and Jacqueline Parditey.