A top official of the Ghana Water Company Limited has been appointed President of the Specialized Committee on Sanitation and Environment of the African Water Association (AfWA).

Mr Jonas Kakariba Jabulo, GWCL Chief Manager in-charge of Water Quality Assurance, will head the Specialized Committee for the next two years. His appointment was made at the just ended 16th Congress of African Water Association held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Another GWCL official, Mr Cephas Oguah was appointed Rapporteur of the Specialized Committee.

Mr Michael Agyeman, GWCL Public Relations Manager told the Ghana News Agency on Saturday that, about 1,500 participants from Africa, USA, Europe and Asia attended the International Congress and Exhibition under the theme: “Collaborative Mechanisms and Innovations for Sustainable Development of Water and Sanitation Sectors in Africa.”

International organizations the Congress attracted included the World Bank, International Water Association (IWA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Professionals in drinking water and sanitation sectors from all African countries as well as investors, donors, scientific bodies, government officials and members of civil society also attended the event.

Mr Jabulo joined the AfWA in 2007. Until his appointment as President, Mr Jabulo served on the Specialized Committee on Sanitation and Environment as Anglophone Secretary for a period of four years.

He holds two Masters Degree in Chemistry from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering with specialty in Water Quality Management from the UNESCO-IHE (Institute of Hydraulic Engineering).

Mr Jabulo joined GWCL in 1986 as Assistant Chemist Bacteriologist. He is a professional member of the Ghana Chemistry Society; an associate member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers and a student member of the the Certified Quality Institute of the UK.

The African Water Association, formerly known as Union of Africa Water Suppliers, is a professional association of establishments, enterprises and utilities operating in water, sanitation and environment sectors in Africa.

The Association brings together institutions responsible for the provision and supply of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes as well as waste water management in Africa.

The AfWA with its headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, has over 100 members in 40 countries across Africa.

The AfWA is also affiliated to 50 international organizations in five continents. Affiliated membership is open to water, sanitation and environment related training institutions, works companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, professional associations, non-governmental organisations, and estate companies.

Individuals such as researchers and scholars working in the interest of the Association as well as interested parties may apply as affiliate members.