WASH Reflections 63 - Access to Bank and Operational Finance - Major Barrier to Sanitation SMEs

Participants at the Easy access to banking and operational finance among micro, small, medium and large sanitation enterprises have been identified as one of the leading barriers to their operations in Ghana. Aside, on time payment has also been identified as another barrier affecting the smooth operations of sanitation SMEs. Explaining some of the barriers that militate against the operations of sanitation SMEs in Ghana from a study of sanitation non-market environment for small and medium scale sanitation enterprises in Kumasi and Accra, Dr. Pippa Scottan I-San Associate of the Integrated Sanitation Solutions for Urban Development said the study was to understand the non-market barriers and opportunities facing small & medium scale sanitation (SME) businesses and their impact on the businesses themselves as well as on their ability to reach Low Income Urban Communities (LIUC) with appropriate products and services, while leveraging and encouraging a more substantive role for SMEs in the sector with particular interest in advocating for review of the fiscal, regulatory and policy aspects of the non-market context.

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WASH REFLECTIONS 106

Access to safe drinking water is recognized by the Government of Ghana as a fundamental human right and a critical public health necessity. While substantial progress has been made in urban and peri-urban areas—thanks to government initiatives and private sector participation—many last-mile communities remain severely underserved. These communities are typically small, remote, and low-income, making water service delivery both challenging and costly.

09 Apr 2025

WASH REFLECTIONS 100 - State of Water Services in the Western Region and Progress of the Rural Water 'Utilitisation' Project

On 26th March 2024, IRC Ghana, in collaboration with the Rural Water Utilitisation Project (R-WUP) partners, hosted a dissemination and progress update meeting on the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) with over sixty-five stakeholders drawn from government, development partners, civil society organisations, local and international NGOs, academia, and the media participating.

27 Mar 2024

WASH Reflection 98 - State of Water Services in Western Region of Ghana

Availability and sustainable management of Water and Sanitation for all is the vision of Sustainable Development Goal six, but millions of people still lack access to safe water globally. In Ghana, 87.7% of the population has access to basic water services according to the Ghana Population and Housing Census 2021 report. The deadline set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is seven years away. To achieve SDG six, it is imperative to have evidence-based data to aid in effective decision-making and resource allocation to tackle inequalities in access to safe water.

14 Sep 2023

WASH Reflection 99 - State of WASH Services in Health Care Facilities in Wassa-East and Asutifi North Districts

We have a once-life time opportunity to make access to WASH available to everyone, everywhere for good. Making safe WASH available and functional in health care facilities is not just an output, but an outcome that improves public health and a critical live-saving endeavor. What matters most is that health care facilities have safe WASH that caters adequately for patients to use at all times in the health care facility, but most importantly for doctors, nurses and other paramedics and other staff to use as well. In a health care facility setting, hand hygiene is critical to reducing the transmission of infectious diseases and is fundamental to a resilient health system. Despite being such an important preventative health measure, it suffers from chronic underprioritization and insufficient investments by government and development partners.

14 Sep 2023