Ghana risks losing out on universal access to WASH by 2030 – WaterAid Ghana
Ghana risks losing out on universal access to WASH by 2030 - WaterAid Ghana
Ghana is said to lose out on achieving universal access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) by 2030 if the required investments are not made on time.
According to WASH sector stakeholders, Ghana’s failure to achieve universal access by 2030 will further deepen inequalities and stall economic growth.
To this end, WaterAid Ghana, one of the key WASH sector players, has appealed to the Finance Minister to make at least US$ 1.7 billion allocation to address WASH issues in the 2025 budget.
In a release signed by the Head of Strategy, Policy and Campaigns at WaterAid Ghana, Mr. Ibrahim Musah, tasked the government through the finance ministry to make appropriate funding allocation to solve the problem of illegal mining in water bodies
Below is the full release by WaterAid Ghana
2025 Budget: Expectations of the Water and Sanitation Sector.
1.0 Introduction
As Ghana embarks on its ‘Resetting Ghana’ agenda, the upcoming national budget presents a critical opportunity to transform the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Without sustainable investments, Ghana risks failing to achieve universal access by 2030, further deepening inequalities and stalling economic growth.
In its 2024 election manifesto, the President pledged to expand social services to promote equity and social justice. A key focus is on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), recognizing it as a critical sector requiring political prioritization and sustainable funding to catalyze progress in other areas of Ghana's economy.
The government’s commitment to WASH is further evidenced by its endorsement of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) 2024 WASH Manifesto, which emphasizes the need for increased financing and policy attention to achieve universal access to basic water and sanitation services by 2030.
As the administration prepares to unveil its financial plan, stakeholders are keen to see how these commitments will translate into actionable policies and budgetary allocations, particularly in the WASH sector, to foster comprehensive national development.
2.0 Context
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. It seeks ‘‘to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.’’. However, its services directly influence health outcomes, education, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability
At the heart of SDG 6 is sustainability, which means that protecting and preserving rivers, water bodies, and freshwater resources should not be handled on a matter of political expediency.
The state and citizens must forge a partnership to tackle issues of pollution of water bodies and stop illegal mining on water bodies and around rivers. It also means putting in place policy measures such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Ghana Statistical Service 2021 Population and Housing Census Report estimates water coverage to be 87.7%, albeit with serious inequalities in access between urban and rural areas, men and women, boys and girls. Sanitation coverage is estimated at 25.3%, with both solid and liquid waste situations being poor in Ghana. Hygiene coverage is around 50%, with challenges in the promotion of effective hand hygiene post-COVID-19.
Leave no one behind is the mantra of the SDGs. This means social equity and justice is at the core if the seventeen SDGs are to be achieved. Importantly also, No Poverty (SDG1), No hunger (SDG2), Good health and wellbeing (SDG3), Gender equality (SDG 5) and all other SDGs cannot be achieved without priority attention to clean water and sanitation (SDG6).
This is because safe water and decent sanitation is at life and dignity, and represent the foundation of development at family, community and national levels.
The WASH sector is one of the least funded sectors. It has remained under 1% of government expenditure since 2016, with higher donor funding, which is unsustainable. To accelerate the achievement of SDG6, the government of Ghana must increase investment sanitation and hygiene at household, school, and healthcare facility levels. Estimates from the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme indicate that Ghana’s WASH needs an investment of GHS 1.7 billion per annum up to 2030 if we are to achieve water, sanitation, and hygiene for all.
The breakdown includes the cost for Water Resources Management (US$8m), Urban Water Supply (US$420m), Rural/Community Water supply (US$350M), Basic sanitation for rural and urban (800m), hygiene (US$60) and system strengthening (US$60m).
These investment requirements include the cost of maintaining existing services and expanding services to all between 2021-2030. With the reset agenda and reduced number of Ministries, expenditure rationalization, prudent financial management, this is possible for GoG. WASH needs sustainable, predictable and equitable financing.
Allocation to the sector as a proportion of government expenditure increased from 0.59% in 2023, and as a proportion to GDP, in increased from 0.17% in 2022 to 0.23% in 2023. it is still below the eThekwini target of 0.5% of GDP.
The WASH sector has remained predominantly donor-funded. In 2022, 73% of the total budget allocated to the sector was from donor sources, while 22% came from GoG. In 2023, donor funding for the sector increased to 92%, an increase of 18% over the 2022 allocation while GoG allocation has reduced to 8% in 2023. In 2024, donor funding was 95% while GoG funding was 5%. This is not encouraging, and certainly not sustainable as ongoing gaps in aid ample demonstrate this.
GoG must endeavour to reverse this trend if it wants to achieve WASH for all in Ghana and accelerate the attainment of SDG6. The government needs to take ownership of financing the sector and partner with the private sector using the mechanisms of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Water infrastructure is capital intensive and requires huge capital investment. Ghana Water Limited (GWL) needs huge financing to replace aged pipelines to boost safe water supply. Regional Capitals like Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho, Takoradi, Kumasi, and parts of Accra are experiencing daily water shortages because demand outstripped supply. Rural areas where community water supply is most needed also require huge investments.
The situation is compounded by activities of illegal mining on river bodies where GWL intake points are found, especially in the Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti regions. The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), which is undergoing reforms to professionalize rural and small-town water delivery, needs sustainable funding to expand its operations as well.
Hygiene infrastructure and education at public places, including lorry parks, recreational centres, markets, and other areas equally need investment, which was also costed in the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme. The gains made in the hygiene programme post-COVID-19 are almost gone.
3.0 Expectations
The public expectations are huge. People want safe water to flow through their taps daily and clean cities that will guarantee them good health with due regard to social equity and economic growth. Social equity:
The GoG has committed to safeguarding investment in the social sector even within the three-year IMF programme. The WASH sector is at the heart of the social sector. Safe WASH is sine quo non for good health, livelihood activities, and education, among others.
Indeed, none of the 17 SDGs will be achieved without the necessary attention paid to safe WASH. Health care facilities (HCF), WASH in Schools need an adequate supply of safe water to provide quality healthcare and ensure safe birth. Patients who attend hospitals must use safe and hygienic toilets and wash their hands with soap to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
The budget allocations should reflect historical geographic development imbalances and sub-sector inequities. The District Assembly common fund should be released on ta imely basis with robust monitoring of utilization to ensure value for money.
Economic growth: Safe water supply is critical for economic growth. It is central to propel both macro and micro economic indicators because it enables production and sustains the productive base of any economy.
Food sellers, market women, traders at all levels, and factory workers need an adequate supply of safe water to produce their goods to earn income, which can be taxed as a source of revenue for the government. Decent sanitation and hygiene will improve public health and ensure the promotion of citizens’ well-being. Indeed, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
Ministerial Alignment/Institutional Re-alignment: Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) is back to Ministerial of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. It was under the Ministry of Local Government in 2016, before the creation of the defunct Sanitation and Water Resources, when it was moved there alongside the Water Directorate.
There is the need to maintain and improve coordination between the EHSD and the Water Directorate, which is now at the Works, Housing and Water Resources Ministry, to improve the fortunes ofthe WASH Sector.
Importantly, there is urgent need to promote inter-Ministerial coordination among key and allied ministries such as Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Minister of state in-charge of Climate Change to ensure policy coherence, monitoring and supervision for effective delivery.
Private Sector Participation: Small Water Enterprises (SWEs) should be encouraged with clear service area delineation to incentivize them to bring in the much-needed capital, with clear PPP arrangements and a clear regulatory regime for water quality.
Illegal Mining/ ‘‘galamsey’’ menace: The threat of illegal mining/galamsey on rivers, freshwater bodies, and forest is a big one and should not be ignored. Water quality is challenged by illegal mining, uncontrolled pollution,n and dumping of refuse. The Ministry of Environment,
Science and Technology should marshal all the needed human, material, and financial resources coupled with the right ‘’intelligence’’ to crush the ‘‘mass-murderers’’ who disguise themselves as ‘‘galamseyers’’ and pollute Ghana’s water bodies and fresh rivers.
Climate Change: Climate change is an existential threat. Luckily, in addition to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, there is now the Minister of State responsible for climate change and sustainability. This tells how the President is serious about tackling climate change. The
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and National Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate change should be fully funded by the Government of Ghana to implement the adaptation measures to stem the tide of climate change. The climate crises are water crises!
4.0 Our Calls
Make allocation of at least US$ 1.7 billion for WASH issues in the 2025 budget.
Make appropriate funding allocation to solve the problem of illegal mining in water bodies
Make appropriate funding allocation to implement NAPs and NDC policies on climate change.
Written and signed by:
Ibrahim Musah, Head of Strategy, Policy, and Campaigns
WaterAid Ghana.
