They also called for measures to protect the country's water bodies from pollution caused by illegal mining activities.

The United Nations (UN) has, since 1993, set aside March 22 every year to focus global attention on the importance of water.

This year's celebration focused on how to avoid wasting water.

Save water

The MP for Navrongo Central and Minister of  Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, set the tone for the observance of the day by delivering a statement on the floor of the House.

He said the bulk of waste water from homes, business places and industry flowed back to nature, without being treated or re-used, thereby polluting the environment and wasting away valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

"Indeed, waste water management is seriously neglected and waste water, therefore, is grossly under-valued as a potentially affordable and sustainable source of water and energy source," he said.

He urged Ghanaians to see waste water as a resource that should be re-used, instead of leaving it as a burden just to be disposed of.

For instance, he said, people could use grey water on gardens and plots, while waste water could be used for green spaces.

Besides, Mr Adda said, businesses and industry could treat and recycle discharge for cooling systems and irrigation.

"By exploiting waste water in agriculture and aquaculture, we protect workers, farmers and consumers and promote food security, health and well-being," he said.

Tackling water challenges

The minister said the government's focus was on increasing investment in water and sanitation services to decrease the time spent on collecting water and tackling infrastructure systems that wasted more fresh water than they delivered.

He said the government would also shift towards environmentally sustainable policies that took account of inter-connection among ecological systems to reduce pollution.

Other contributors

The MP for Pusiga, Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba, said illegal mining activities were drying up the country's water bodies "that our people depend on" and called for urgent measures to protect the water bodies from further pollution.

She stressed the need for the recycling of waste water to be re-used for other activities.

The MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga and Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, expressed alarm at the pollution of water bodies and called for steps to reverse the situation.

The MP for Bongo, Mr Edward Bawa, said water bodies in the Bongo District had a high percentage of fluoride of up to 3.5 per cent, which was above the United Nations (UN)  standard of 1.5 per cent.

He said the high fluoride content in the water caused many of the children in the area to have tooth decay.

The MP for Adentan, Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, noted that Ghana was on the verge of a water crisis and stressed the need for steps to be taken to protect the country's water bodies.