The Our Water, Our Right African Coalition (OWORAC) has once again called for an end to water privatisation in Africa, emphasizing the need for water justice over profit-driven policies. The coalition, composed of community leaders, civil society organizations, and trade unionists across the continent, is pushing for a community centered approach to managing water resources and ensuring sustainable public water services.
As part of its Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation, OWORAC is raising awareness about the dangers posed by the corporate control of water services. This annual event, which coincides with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings, highlights the negative influence these global financial institutions have had on public water systems in the Global South. The theme for this year’s week is Water Justice Over Profit.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), emphasized the seriousness of water privatisation, stating that it is an affront to the human right to water.He added that corporate control over such essential services is an abandonment of responsibility by governments, leading to water becoming inaccessible and unaffordable for many. Oluwafemi called on governments to work together through public public partnerships to ensure that water remains a public service, not a corporate commodity.
The sentiment was echoed by other OWORAC leaders, such as Fatou Diouf, Project Coordinator for Public Services International, who stressed that well-managed public water companies can better serve the needs of African communities than private corporations. Similarly, Leonard Shang-Quartey, Coordinator of the Africa Water Justice Network, pointed out that investors often view the human right to water as a risk, leaving many communities without access to water despite the push for privatisation.
OWORAC also shed light on the external pressures African governments face from international institutions. According to Sefa Ikpa, CAPPA Program Coordinator, the World Bank, IMF, and other bilateral development agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have for decades imposed policies that promote privatisation in exchange for financial aid. These policies have often led to rising water costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and job losses for public sector workers.
Large multinational corporations, such as Veolia and Suez, have been among the primary beneficiaries of these privatisation schemes, profiting at the expense of African communities. The coalition argued that these companies funnel profits out of Africa while leaving the continent with degraded water systems that governments eventually have to repair.
Water is a fundamental human right, and privatisation schemes that prioritize corporate profit over public welfare undermine this right. Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the Institute of Black World 21st Century, emphasized in his message of solidarity that water should not be privatised anywhere in Africa, or anywhere in the world.
OWORAC’s fight for water justice is about more than just access to water; it is about ensuring that water remains affordable, accessible, and sustainable for all. The coalition continues to challenge governments and corporations alike to invest in public water systems and protect the human right to water for future generations.
In a world where access to clean water is becoming increasingly scarce, the call for water justice is more urgent than ever. OWORAC is determined to see an end to water privatisation and a return to community focused, publicly managed water systems that serve the people, not corporate interests.