CONIWAS Engages Parliamentary Committee to Strengthen Accountability in Ghana’s WASH Sector

The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has strengthened its collaboration with national policymakers following a strategic engagement with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources at Parliament House. The meeting, held on February 18, 2026, focused on accelerating key reforms and financing priorities within Ghana’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
The session provided a formal platform for civil society to present evidence on sector challenges, propose regulatory reforms, and reinforce the need for structured cooperation between Parliament and non-state actors to ensure sustainable WASH outcomes.
Strategic Priorities Discussed
Scaling Up WASH Financing
CONIWAS urged Parliament to champion increased and more strategic WASH financing during upcoming budget cycles, aligning national resource allocation with Ghana’s Presidential Compact target of approximately US$1.7   billion annually for WASH investments. Civil society emphasized that current sector allocations remain far below national investment needs, meeting only about 10% of required financing.
Advancing a Comprehensive Water Services Act
The coalition called for the development and passage of a robust Water Services Act to harmonize regulatory responsibilities and eliminate overlapping mandates within the water sub-sector. This recommendation aligns with earlier parliamentary discussions on service delivery gaps involving the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.
Parliamentary Support for a National Sanitation Authority
The Committee reaffirmed strong support for the creation of a National Sanitation Authority (NSA) backed by a dedicated National Sanitation Fund —a reform also endorsed in recent civil society engagements. The Authority is envisioned to strengthen sanitation regulation, revenue generation, and structured compliance across the country.
Fast‑Tracking the Revised Environmental Sanitation Policy
The …