One-house one-toilet project, topped their priorities which also included; institutional water facilities, road infrastructure, furniture for schools in the communities and school blocks among others.

The WaterAid Ghana supported the communities - Charingu, Biihee, Gurimuni, Kadowli, Gbegru, Aahiwao and Sanchiga, to develop the Action Plans with three priority needs under its "Right to Water and Sanitation" project.

Presenting the Action Plans to the Assembly, Mr Ibrahim Musah, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) consultant at WaterAid, suggested the Assembly prioritise WASH in its 2020 Annual Action Plan.

He also highlighted the need for the Assembly to sustain financing for the sanitation sector to help improve the sanitation situation in the municipality.

He urged the Assembly to institute and implement by-laws on sanitation and encourage communities to inculcate proper WASH practices.

Mr Musah said the United Nations recognised access to water and sanitation as a right, but that there was the need for collaboration between communities and government to make that right a reality.

He said the Open Defecation (OD) situation in the area was worrying and called for urgent action by stakeholders to nib the practice in the bud.

Currently, the national OD rate stands at about 21 percent, while that of the Upper West Region is about 52 percent.

Sustainable Development Goal six seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

According to Mr Musah, about 47 percent of urban dwellers in the Wa Municipality defecate in the open, while about 70 percent of those in rural communities also did same.

He said WaterAid trained latrine artisans in some communities in the region to provide sanitation services to the people.

Mr Crispin Yango, the Wa Municipal Planning Officer, gave the assurance that the Assembly would take the priorities of the communities into consideration in its planning, but encouraged them to initiate projects and seek support from the Assembly.

He said the 2020 Composite Annual Action Plan of the Assembly made provision to support Communities to construct household latrines under the Community-Led Total Sanitation concept.

Mr Haruna Amadu Zure, Acting Wa Municipal Coordinating Director, commended WaterAid for the support in improving the WASH situation in the area.

He said observing proper sanitation practices would help improve healthy living, prevent sanitation related diseases and enable the people to engage in their economic activities.

The forum was on the theme: "Make right to Water and Sanitation a reality".