The 35th Mole Conference, organized by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), is underway at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, with stakeholders gathering to evaluate Ghana’s efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
This milestone event comes at a crucial time, as the country intensifies efforts to ensure universal access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
In her welcoming address, CONIWAS Chairperson, Ms. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, acknowledged the collective progress made over the years, while stressing the need for renewed dedication to achieving SDG 6 by 2030.
She highlighted that this year’s theme, “Looking Back on the Implementation of SDG 6: Progress, Challenges, and the Way Forward,” calls for a critical reflection on the advancements and gaps in Ghana’s WASH sector.
Ms. Akanyani pointed to the recent signing of the Ghana Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in August 2024 as a major breakthrough, demonstrating the government’s alignment with civil society and development partners to prioritize WASH in national policies.
This compact, she noted, sets the stage for further action and collaboration toward achieving the SDG 6 targets.
The Mole Conference, first held in 1989, has evolved into Ghana’s foremost platform for discussing WASH-related issues. Over the past three and a half decades, it has facilitated dialogue and collaboration among NGOs, government institutions, development partners, academia, and the private sector.
This year’s conference, marking the 35th edition, continues this tradition by providing a space for experts and stakeholders to review Ghana’s WASH strategies and explore effective solutions to ongoing challenges.
Key Focus Areas of Mole XXXV
The Mole XXXV Conference will focus on Ghana’s progress in meeting SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Participants will assess the state of WASH systems in the country, interrogate current methods, and explore innovative approaches to address service delivery gaps.
In her speech, Ms. Akanyani emphasized that the conference provides a unique platform for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to share insights and experiences.
The goal is to review Ghana’s WASH journey, assess climate-resilient and sustainable service delivery models, and identify solutions to overcome the sector’s challenges.
The overall objective of the conference is to critically analyze Ghana’s SDG 6 trajectory, review policy and institutional frameworks, and determine the path forward to ensure equitable and sustainable WASH services for all Ghanaians.
The conference will also assess the impact of WASH delivery methods, sector coordination, and models on the country’s progress toward its 2030 targets.
As the Mole Conference celebrates 35 years, it remains a key driver in shaping Ghana’s WASH policies and advocating for universal access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene services.
The discussions and outcomes of Mole XXXV are expected to chart the next phase of the country’s WASH journey, keeping SDG 6 firmly in focus as the 2030 deadline approaches.
