Our Water Our Rights Africa Coalition (OWORAC) has sounded the alarm on water privatization, calling on African governments to halt all plans to privatize the water sector and increase funding and investments in the water sector.
This demand was made to mark the 2024 Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatization, themed “Water Justice Over Profit” in an hybrid press conference.
CAPPA Executive Director, Oluwafemi Akinbode, on behalf of OWORAC emphasized the need for a participatory approach to water governance, involving affected communities in the development of solutions. He also stressed the importance of prioritizing affordability and quality in water justice and promoting Public-Public Partnerships (PUPs) to improve governance and labor relations in water utilities.
The Water Campaign Director at Corporate Accountability,Neil Gupta highlighted the dangers of water privatization, citing examples of unaffordable water bills, unreliable services, and neglected infrastructure. “The fight for water justice is rooted in the fight for democracy itself,” Gupta said.
“We need our governments to put the needs and rights of the many over the greed of the few.”
The Acting Secretary of the Senegalese Water Justice Network, Fatou Diouf echoed this sentiment, noting that privatization has proven detrimental to Africa’s economy and people. She urged journalists to use their platforms to call for an end to water privatization, which denies people their fundamental right to water.
The Week of Action against Water Privatization coincides with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings, emphasizing the growing demand for democratic control of public utilities and an end to privatization prioritizing corporate profits over community needs.
The Programme Officer at CAPPA, noted that “water justice and social justice more broadly require us to prioritize public welfare over private profits.”
Ikpa emphasized the importance of participatory water governance and government commitment to public solutions for realizing the human right to water across Africa.
Other speakers at the hybrid international press conference included 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, representing Anne Maine of Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya.
OWORAC’s demands for increased investment and an end to privatization aim to secure the human right to water for all Africans.
As the Week of Action against Water Privatization continues, communities will come together to share their demands and aspirations for improved water governance with water authorities.
