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.

RC, in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), CONIWAS, WaterAid, and other partners – together with the respective District Assemblies – is convening a National Learning Exchange on District-Wide Approaches (DWAs) under the theme: “Strengthening local systems to deliver safe and sustainable WASH services: Reflections on district-wide approaches towards meeting the targets for SDG 6.”

The National Learning Exchange provides a platform for like-minded partners implementing district-wide approaches to achieving WASH and WASH-related SDGs to share their experiences and gain first-hand insight into how these approaches are being rolled out and replicated. The objective is to strengthen robust local systems that deliver safe and sustainable WASH services for all. The platform seeks to stimulate inclusive, district-focused dialogue and interaction to identify key learning points that can accelerate improved planning and practice towards achieving universal access to WASH services.

This session aims to reflect on Ghana’s progress towards SDG 6 and share lessons from district-wide WASH interventions, highlighting how local governments and partners are collaborating to deliver services in diverse contexts. It will also explore how WASH plans are being integrated into Medium-Term Development Plans, examine what is working and what is not, and provide an opportunity for learning, dialogue, and the development of actionable recommendations to enhance planning and support the replication of successful approaches.

Speaking at the 106th National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) in Accra, Mr. Gyasi-Duku underscored the policy’s critical role in addressing long-standing challenges in Ghana’s water sector and in delivering sustainable solutions, particularly for underserved populations. He noted that access to safe water must be treated not only as a supply issue but as a pressing public health concern. He also stressed the importance of focusing on “last mile” communities often rural and marginalised areas that remain beyond the reach of formal water infrastructure. Mr. Gyasi-Duku called for measurable targets to ensure that these communities are reached effectively. He emphasized the need for shared responsibility in addressing the crisis: “Every household and institution must be involved in achieving national water goals.”

Dr. Tony Tsekpetse, who facilitated the session, highlighted the urgent need for improved institutional learning and accountability within the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector. He called for a shift from isolated project-based successes to a system-wide approach that delivers lasting impact. Dr. Tsekpetse further stressed the importance of ensuring that knowledge-sharing leads to tangible results. “We must move from learning to doing,” he said, calling for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure follow-through on commitments.
The forum, held under the theme “Driving Access and Equity in Water: The Enabling Environment for Reaching Last-Mile Communities in Ghana,” brought together stakeholders from government, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector. It focused on identifying sustainable financing mechanisms and inclusive policies to bridge the water access gap for underserved populations.

In her opening remarks, Madam Suzzy Abaidoo, a senior programmes officer at the MSWR, praised Saha Global’s women-led water service model in northern Ghana as a powerful example of community-driven innovation. The model supplies clean drinking water to areas where boreholes are unfeasible and communities rely solely on rainwater or dugouts.

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (2022), more than two million rural Ghanaians still lack access to safe drinking water. While policy measures such as the revised National Water Policy and the newly introduced Presidential Compact prioritize these populations, implementation remains hampered by limited funding and logistical constraints.
Presenting on behalf of Saha Global, Mr. Theo Boateng outlined the real cost of delivering basic water services to last-mile communities. He estimated it costs GHS 132 per person annually to sustain the model, covering infrastructure, staff, water treatment, and logistics.

However, affordability remains a challenge. Low-income users typically pay only 10 pesewas for 20 liters of water, making cost recovery virtually impossible without financial subsidies.
In a typical village of 500 people, he said, monthly revenue from water sales averages just GHS 300—barely enough to cover production costs, let alone staff wages, quality monitoring, or system maintenance.

Without sustained financial support, he warned, these community-run systems could collapse, forcing residents to return to unsafe sources. Subsidies, he argued, are not just necessary but transformative. Citing field data, Mr. Boateng explained, “Extreme affordability is not a luxury in these communities; it’s a necessity.” He noted that subsidizing chlorine significantly boosted water consumption, while price hikes led to immediate declines. Stakeholders at the forum proposed various strategies for sustainable water financing, including district-level funding partnerships, revolving funds, donor-backed allocations, and corporate social responsibility investments. They also discussed cross-subsidization from urban utilities and results-based financing as viable options.

Participants emphasized the need for policy alignment among decentralised authorities, utilities, and NGOs to ensure coordinated efforts in reaching underserved areas. They also called for increased infrastructure investment in dugouts, treatment units, and logistics to support rural water delivery. The forum concluded with a shared commitment to accelerate implementation of reforms and ensure that Ghana’s most vulnerable communities are not excluded from the country’s development agenda.

By: CDA Consult

Madam Suzzy Abaidoo, a senior WASH officer at the Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, in her opening remarks, drew attention to the stark disparities experienced by these communities, recounting her visit to one such area where families live without electricity, proper roads, communication networks, or access to basic amenities. She warned that continuing with traditional approaches would only reinforce exclusion. “These people are not part of the system. No WhatsApp, no schools, no water. Therefore, business as usual will not work,” she said. “We must develop intentional, tailor-made strategies if we are serious about leaving no one behind.” She commended Saha Global’s women-led water service model in northern Ghana as an example of innovation grounded in community realities.

The model provides safe drinking water in areas where borehole drilling has proven unsuccessful and rainwater and dugouts remain the only sources. According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (2022), over two million Ghanaians in rural areas still lack access to safe drinking water. While recent reforms such as Ghana’s revised National Water Policy and the newly introduced Residential Compact have prioritised these communities, implementation remains constrained by financial and logistical challenges.

Mr. Theophilus Boateng, presenting on behalf of Saha Global, highlighted the true cost of delivering basic water services to last-mile communities. He said it takes an estimated GHS 132 per person per year to sustain the model, which includes hardware, personnel, water treatment, and transport costs. However, low-income users often pay just 10 pesewas for 20 litres of water, making cost recovery nearly impossible without subsidies. Mr. Boateng noted that revenue from water sales in a typical village of 500 people averages GHS 300 a month, barely enough to cover production costs, let alone salaries, water quality monitoring, or repairs. He warned that without continued financial support, the systems would fail, forcing communities to revert to unsafe water sources. He emphasised that subsidies were not only essential but transformative.

Data from Saha’s field operations showed that reducing chlorine costs through subsidies led to a significant rise in water consumption, while increased costs saw a marked decline. “Extreme affordability is not a luxury in these communities; it’s a necessity,” he stressed. Stakeholders at the meeting proposed a range of strategies to finance last-mile water access sustainably. These included establishing district-level funding partnerships, introducing revolving funds, securing policy-backed allocations from donor-funded projects, and leveraging private sector contributions through corporate social responsibility frameworks.

Cross-subsidisation from urban systems and results-based financing models were also discussed as potential options. Participants underscored the need for policy coherence to ensure that decentralised authorities, water utilities, and NGOs align their efforts in reaching the unreached. They also called for increased investments in infrastructure such as dugouts, water treatment units, and logistics support to sustain rural water systems. The forum concluded with a collective commitment to accelerate implementation of water sector reforms, ensuring that Ghana’s most vulnerable communities are not left out of the country’s development narrative.

By: CDA Consult

The session highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the needs of last-mile or hard-to-reach communities, emphasizing that this is not a new conversation but a continuation of discussions that began as far back as 2010. Madam Suzy defined last-mile communities as “hard-to-reach communities.” They are known as such because they represent the final stage in service delivery and are geographically, economically, socially, and politically isolated populations. Drawing from supply chain logistics terminology, she described last-mile communities as the most challenging and resource-intensive areas for service delivery.

The Ministry stressed the need for intentional, tailored strategies rather than business-as-usual approaches, citing Saha Global’s model in the northern region as a potential entry point. The remarks also connect this effort to ongoing national reforms, including a revised water policy and Presidential compact on WASH, which recognize these communities as a strategic priority. She further noted that the outcomes and recommendations from the discussions would be incorporated into the Ministry’s ongoing policy reforms.

Saha Global shed light on the fact that small, hard-to-reach communities in the north rely on dugout and rainwater, and in most attempts to drill boreholes, have not worked. To counter this  Saha Global partners with local operators to provide access to safe drinking water to hard-to-reach communities through the implementation of their SSWTS model in these communities where groundwater is not accessible/ available. The Simple Surface Water Treatment System model involves the collection of water from dugouts into containers, treatment with aluminum sulfate, transfer into polytanks, and subsequent disinfection with chlorine before consumption.

The 106^th NLLAP successfully brought together stakeholders to address the pressing issue of water access in last-mile communities in Ghana. Through presentations, discussions, and breakout sessions, innovative ideas were generated on how to enhance water service delivery and ensure sustainability. The collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders was emphasized as essential for achieving equitable and sustainable water access. The event marked a significant step towards realizing the vision of driving access and equity in water for all, particularly in the most underserved communities.

Saha Global will be discussing the insights from Saha Global’s last mile service delivery approach with a specific emphasis on the financial challenges and realities of serving small, scattered, and hard-to-reach rural communities in Ghana. The Ministry will then lead a workshop-style discussion session to explore innovative and practical financing mechanisms that can support consistent safe water delivery to last-mile communities.

The session aims to advocate for and support the Ministry in developing frameworks that ensure equitable access to safe water for all, leaving no one behind.

Read more: https://washghana.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NLLAP-Invitation-SAHA-Global-.pdf

The session was held to address the global challenge of access to safe drinking water by promoting standardized criteria for Household Water Treatment Products (HWTP). Ghana’s 2014 strategy emphasizes the importance of HWTP technologies like filters to reduce waterborne diseases. Collaborative efforts by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), MSWR, WHO, and UNICEF aim to certify and regulate HWTPs, supporting safe water access and achieving SDG 6 targets.

Unclean water storage is a critical factor contributing to household contamination, leading to various serious health issues. According to Mr. Kwaku Quansah, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR), improper water storage practices pose substantial risks to public health. During an interview at the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) in Accra, he provided insights into the National Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) Strategy.

Mr. Quansah explained that poorly maintained water storage containers can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. He emphasized that the absence of proper and consistent cleaning and disinfection profoundly undermines the quality of stored water. “Without routine maintenance, storage containers can accumulate dirt and contaminants that promote microbial growth, thus posing health risks to consumers,” he stated.

He also highlighted the challenges involved in the placement of water storage containers, noting that in some situations, it becomes extremely difficult—if not impossible—to clean and disinfect them effectively. “Neglecting these crucial tasks opens the door for the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, which are often imperceptible to the naked eye, and can lead to severe health consequences,” Mr. Quansah warned.

To combat these dangers, he strongly urged households to engage in effective water treatment methods. He recommended techniques such as boiling water to kill pathogens, using chlorination to disinfect, or employing filtration systems to remove contaminants.

Moreover, Mr. Quansah advocated for regular testing of stored water to assess critical parameters, including pH levels, turbidity, and the presence of bacterial contamination.

“By adopting these preventive measures, households can significantly mitigate the risks of contamination associated with unclean water storage practices. The Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) initiative holds substantial promise in combating waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhea, and could enhance overall public health in Ghana,”

He concluded, highlighting the tremendous potential for improvement, especially for vulnerable populations like children.

The session reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts to address water safety challenges in Ghana. While significant progress has been made in policy development and stakeholder engagement, gaps in infrastructure, behavior change, and enforcement persist. By building on the insights and commitments shared during the session, stakeholders can work toward sustainable improvements in water quality and public health. The collective responsibility of government bodies, private sector actors, and community organizations will be crucial in achieving universal access to safely managed drinking water services

This session aims to address the ongoing challenge of ensuring access to safe drinking water in Ghana, particularly in areas where access to treated water remains limited. Household Water Treatment Products (HWTPs) are pivotal in enhancing water quality at the point of use. However, variations in the effectiveness of these products underscore the need for standardized criteria to ensure safety and efficacy.

Global and National Context

Globally, access to safe drinking water is a cornerstone of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, particularly under Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes safely managed water services for all. In Ghana, efforts are guided by the National Strategy for Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage, established in 2014. The strategy aims to reduce waterborne diseases by promoting safe storage practices and adopting technologies like siphon filters, ceramic filters, and bio-sand filters by 2025.

To support these efforts, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in partnership with the MSWR, WHO, and UNICEF, has developed comprehensive standards and certification schemes for HWTPs. These include:

• GS 1331:2022: Establishing performance requirements for pathogen removal in HWTPs.
• GSA-PCM-STI-1331:2023: Detailing testing and certification procedures for these products.

These standards are designed to ensure that HWTPs effectively remove harmful microorganisms, protecting public health and boosting consumer confidence in their use.

The session will engage diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), manufacturers, and the general public. A key focus will be raising awareness about these standards, promoting their adoption, and fostering compliance across the sector.

The National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP), a multi-stakeholder engagement platform, will facilitate discussions and knowledge sharing. By creating a collaborative space for stakeholders, NLLAP aims to enhance understanding and drive implementation of the certification scheme.

The initiative is poised to make significant strides in public health by ensuring that HWTPs meet stringent safety and efficacy standards. It aligns with Ghana’s broader efforts to achieve universal access to safe drinking water and mitigate waterborne diseases.

Through this session, the MSWR and its partners reaffirm their commitment to advancing water quality standards, safeguarding public health, and contributing to sustainable development in Ghana.

The ICOWASH project, funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, has been instrumental in improving the health and well-being of communities in Northern Ghana’s Talensi, West Mamprusi, and Mamprugu/Moagduri districts. Over the past six years, the project has implemented various initiatives, including infrastructure development, capacity building, and behavior change activities, to enhance access to WASH services.

Key achievements of the ICOWASH project include:

• Infrastructure Development: Construction of 91 boreholes, 10 limited mechanized water systems, 275 gender and disability-friendly institutional latrines, 38 bathrooms, and 35 medical incinerators.
• Community-Led Total Sanitation: Certification of 196 communities as Open Defecation Free (ODF) and 12 communities as sanitized.
• WASH-Friendly Institutions: Recognition of 175 basic schools and 50 healthcare facilities as WASH-friendly institutions.

The event will feature a panel discussion on the ICOWASH models and strategies, an exhibition of relevant WASH documents, and a demonstration of the WinS toolbox, a joint development with the Kom Yilma Project in Burkina Faso.

By sharing its experiences and lessons learned, the ICOWASH project hopes to inspire and guide other WASH initiatives in Ghana and beyond.

Professor Simon Mariwah from the University of Cape Coast presented the key findings of the research commissioned by WV Ghana. The study highlighted several critical aspects of WASH service delivery in the Fanteakwa North District. It revealed that while 50-60% of households had access to water services, significant disparities existed, particularly in rural areas. Access to sanitation was limited, with only about 40% of households having basic sanitation. Schools and healthcare facilities showed varying levels of WASH service availability, with many facing challenges in maintenance and community usage. Public spaces, however, were noted for their inadequate WASH facilities.

The research also revealed low prioritization and investment in WASH services within the district. Despite allocating 20% of the budget to WASH in 2021 and 2022, only 20-30% of these funds were disbursed. Logistical challenges, such as a lack of vehicles and equipment for field operations, further worsen the issues. The scarcity of technological resources hindered effective data collection and management. Although the district had sufficient personnel for WASH service delivery, most staff members lacked the necessary training and expertise, affecting the quality of services provided.

Participants emphasized the critical need for continuous staff development and capacity building to strengthen the WASH sector. They also highlighted the importance of securing sustainable funding for WASH services through strategic resource mobilization, including public-private partnerships. Strengthening the institutional framework, particularly for departments like Environmental Health and Sanitation, was identified as crucial for effective service delivery. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to prioritize WASH, increase investments, and foster collaboration to ensure safe and sustainable water and sanitation services for all Ghanaians.