“OWORAC Demands Equitable Water, Across Africa, … African Countries to Increase Government Funding and Investments in Water Sector”

“OWORAC Demands Equitable Water Across Africa, … African Countries to Increase Government Funding and Investments in Water Sector”

By prince Benson Davies

Our Water Our Rights Africa Coalition (OWORAC) are demanding equitable water access across Africa and governments funding and investments in the water sector

Mr Oluwafemi Akinbode, the Executive Director of CAPPA, in his welcome address at our Rights Africa Coalition press conference on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to declare the opening of 2024 Africa week of Action Against Water Privatization, theme “Water Justice Over Profit,” said governments must adopt “a participatory approach to water governance and the development of roadmaps to water problems must involve the communities that are affected.”

Akinbode, standing on OWORAC demands, explain that there should be an “expanded outlook on water justice beyond access to include affordability and quality,” and the African governments should pursue Public-private Partnerships (PUPs) while promoting good governance and improving labour relations in water utilities.

Neil Gupta, the Water Campaign Director at Corporate Accountability (CA), shared in his solidarity message shared that the fight for water justice is rooted in the fight for democracy itself.

He said, “we need our government to put the needs and rights of the many over the greed of the few. Water privatization is a glaring example of what happens when we put corporations and their profits over the fundamental needs of communities.

“Examples from all over the world show that when corporations take control of water systems, water bills rise to unaffordable levels, service becomes increasingly unreliable, infrastructure is neglected and workers face threats to their safety and livelihoods.”

Fatou Diouf, the Acting Secretary of Senegalese Water Justice Network, also buttressed that privatization has proven to be bad for the economy and for Africans and that is why OWORAC is organizing to resist water privatization in the continent.

She appealed to journalists to use the media to appeal for a halt of water privatization, which has not been profitable but rather denying people to their fundamental right.

Sefa Ikpa, Programme Officer at CAPPA, also noted that “water justice, and social justice more broadly, requires us to prioritise public welfare over private profits. A participatory approach to water governance and governments’ commitment to public solutions to the continent’s water challenges are necessary for making progress towards the realisation of the human right to water across Africa.”

The Week of Action against Water Privatization, which coincides with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings, will emphasise the rising demand across Africa for democratic control of public utilities, particularly water, and an end to the privatisation that prioritises corporate profits over the basic needs of communities.

The Week of Resistance will also focus on bolstering community power and pan-African solidarity, facilitating spaces for communities to directly engage and share their demands and aspirations for improved water governance with water authorities.

Other speakers at the hybrid international press conference are Leonard Shang-Quartey, Coordinator, Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN); Dr. Ron Daniels, President, Institute of Black World (IBW); Geoffrey Kabutey Ocansey, Revenue Mobilisation Africa (Ghana); Oumar Ba, Confédération de Syndicats Autonomes du Sénégal; Pascal Bekono, African Centre for Advocacy (Cameroon); and Gideon Muya, who represented Anne Maine of Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya.