Stakeholders Unite to Accelerate Progress on Safely Managed Water Services in Rural Ghana
On 9 October 2025, IRC Ghana, in collaboration with the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), convened a high-level national engagement in Accra to discuss progress, challenges, and pathways toward achieving safely managed water services in rural Ghana. The meeting, attended by representatives from government institutions, civil society, water service providers, development partners, and the media, focused on findings from a new IRC Ghana study examining the drivers and barriers to safely managed water services.
Access to safely managed water services — defined by the United Nations as water that is accessible on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination — is a cornerstone of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). Ghana has made notable progress, increasing access from 32% in 2015 to 44% in 2024. However, the gains have been uneven, with rural areas lagging behind due to infrastructural, financial, and governance-related constraints. The national dialogue came at a critical time, as the country intensifies efforts to ensure equitable access and move beyond basic water supply models toward sustainable, safely managed systems.
Representatives from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources (MWHWR) and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) reflected on national progress and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving universal access.
“We recognize that safely managed water is not just about infrastructure — it’s about systems, accountability, and sustainable financing,” a Ministry representative stated.
IRC Ghana’s presentation of the study findings provided a strong evidence base for policy dialogue. A spokesperson from IRC Ghana emphasized that “accelerating progress requires aligning national targets with district-level implementation, strengthening partnerships, and prioritizing investments in service reliability and quality.”
Mr. Jerimiah Atengdem
The study presented by IRC Ghana revealed both progress and persistent barriers. While policy frameworks acknowledge the importance of safely managed water, they often lack the operational clarity and financing mechanisms needed to drive implementation.
Discussions highlighted that utility-led and private service models, such as those operated by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) and Safe Water Enterprises, demonstrate higher household connection rates compared to community-managed systems, which struggle with cost recovery and technical capacity.
Key barriers identified included high infrastructure upgrade costs, weak monitoring systems, and limited skilled personnel, while drivers of progress included urbanization, user willingness to pay, infrastructure rehabilitation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Participants also examined the ANAM Initiative in Asutifi North, which showcased local progress — household water connections increased from 5% in 2017 to 16% in 2024 — yet the district remains off-track to meet its 2030 targets. This case study underscored the need for targeted investment and stronger local accountability frameworks.
Stakeholders reached consensus on several recommendations, including:
- Strengthening national targets and district integration for safely managed services.
- Investing in system rehabilitation and operational sustainability.
- Enhancing data systems for monitoring and advocacy.
- Scaling up financing mechanisms for rural water infrastructure.
Cross-section of participants
The engagement concluded with a shared call to action — to move beyond basic access and make safely managed water services the standard for all Ghanaians. The insights and recommendations gathered will inform IRC Ghana’s final report and advocacy strategy to support national policy uptake and implementation.
As Ghana strives toward SDG 6, the collaboration between government, NGOs, and development partners will be vital to ensuring that every rural community enjoys safe, inclusive, and sustainable water services.