Update · NLAP
Stakeholders Unite to Accelerate Progress on Safely Managed Water Services in Rural Ghana
10 October 2025
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…
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 …
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 …