Water is the ‘Blue Gold’: Upholding Access to Water as a Human Right in Ghana

Abstract

Protecting access to water represents human dignity and remains the traditional right upon which other forms of human rights are realised. This article argues that privatisation of Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC), which was conceived by the IMF/WB, and facilitated by the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); disfigures the humanity of poor Ghanaians, who lack the financial resource to purchase water. Similarly, it contends, that guided by avarice and greed, some MNCs characterised water as ‘blue gold’ to be exploited for financial and economic gains; thereby undermining the communal status of water, as stipulated in the water policy of Ghana. The article further argues, that by eschewing corruption-related practices, the Ghanaian government as well as state institutions, especially the judiciary, should protect the people’s access to water-supply; by construing international human rights instruments and domestic constitution to the people’s access to water.

Keywords: Access, Water, human rights, GATS, Trade Liberalisation, Corruption, IMF/WB

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/110-08

Publication date:June 30^th 2021