Abuja, Nigeria – Recently, Liberia, through the Environmental and Occupational Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, participated in the Western Africa Sub-Regional Ministerial Committee and Consultation on the formulation of the post-2025 Water Vision and Policy. The meeting was held in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together representatives from fourteen West African nations, as well as regional development partners, including ECOWAS, UNECA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Union Citizens. Liberia’s delegation was led by William Y. Kweinah, Jr., National Coordinator for Training and Education and the country’s Representative to the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW). A key focus of the consultation was the review of six thematic papers developed by the AMCOW Executive Secretariat. These documents provided a framework for stakeholders to refine and make critical inputs to shape the post-2025 water policies.
The thematic areas covered included financing, investment, and resource mobilization; water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater management; water infrastructure for economic growth; climate resilience and disaster risk management; governance and institutional mechanisms for water resource management; information management and capacity development; and gender equality and social inclusion. As a founding member of AMCOW, Liberia reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing water resource management. Liberia, which boasts the highest level of water resources in West Africa, recommended mobilizing investments and government support to improve water supply and sanitation infrastructure. The Liberian delegation urged all citizens and the national government to consider water as a strategic asset and a vital component of economic and social development.
During the meeting, AMCOW Chair Hon. Engr. Babaride called on all member states to strengthen their commitments to water resource management, sanitation, hygiene, climate resilience, and disaster risk mitigation. Hon. Babaride disclosed the increasing challenges posed by climate change and population growth, stressing that early investment in water infrastructure would be crucial in ensuring sustainable development across the region. The consultation concluded with a renewed commitment from participating nations to work collaboratively in achieving the objectives outlined in the post-2025 Water Vision and Policy. Delegates also engaged in bilateral discussions, with Liberia holding constructive meetings with representatives from Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Gambia, and Ivory Coast. The West African Sub-Regional Ministerial Committee and Consultation on the Formulation of Post-Water Vision and Policy aims to establish a strategic framework for sustainable water management in the region beyond existing policies.
Its key objectives include developing a long-term vision for water resource management, creating a unified and integrated water policy, strengthening institutional collaboration, addressing water security and sustainability challenges, mobilizing financial and technical resources, and ensuring public engagement. AMCOW aligns with national, regional, and international efforts to enhance water governance, improve access to safe water, and promote climate resilience, ensuring a sustainable future for water resources in West Africa.