CONIWAS and IRC Call for Stronger Collaboration to Accelerate Safely Managed Water Services in Rural Ghana

The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), in partnership with IRC Ghana, convened a national engagement forum to discuss progress, challenges, and solutions for advancing safely managed water services in rural communities. The forum, held in Accra, brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector to share insights from a recent study and to develop joint strategies toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) — universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030.

Safely managed water, as defined under the SDGs, refers to water from improved sources that is accessible on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. According to the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), as of 2022, Ghana’s access to safely managed water services stands at 44%, with urban areas achieving 63% coverage and rural areas lagging at 19%. This disparity highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, investment, and policy alignment to ensure rural populations are not left behind in the country’s journey toward SDG 6.

CONIWAS Executive Secretary, Basilia Nanbigne, underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and collective learning to address the inequalities in water access.

“Safely managed water requires more than infrastructure. It demands adequate funding, strong institutions, and active community engagement,” she said.

Echoing her remarks, Jeremiah (IRC Ghana) emphasized that the forum’s discussions and study findings would be instrumental in accelerating national progress.

“The outcomes from this engagement will guide actions toward ensuring universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. Achieving this goal requires a unified effort between government, the private sector, and citizens,” he stated.

The forum centered on findings from the IRC-led study, “Drivers and Barriers to Advancing Safely Managed Water Services in Asutifi North.” The study revealed that while many communities have access to basic water services, only a small portion meet the safely managed criteria. In the Ahafo Region, approximately 80% of the population now uses safely managed water services, while 20% depend on standpipe systems — a sign of progress but also a reminder of work ahead.

Key challenges identified include high billing costs, water pollution, political interference, and weak monitoring and evaluation systems. Participants agreed that without stronger governance and technical oversight, sustaining improvements in water quality and service delivery would remain difficult.

Stakeholders proposed a set of strategic recommendations to guide future action:

1. Strategic Partnerships: Enhance collaboration between government agencies, private operators, and communities to prioritize safely managed water services.

2. Advocacy and Awareness: Strengthen public understanding of safely managed water, moving beyond the concept of basic water access.

3. System Rehabilitation: Invest in upgrading and maintaining rural water systems to improve service reliability and coverage.

4. Monitoring and Accountability: Develop clear performance standards and enforce regular data collection to inform policy and resource allocation.

The national engagement reaffirmed the sector’s shared commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of location, has access to safe and sustainable water services. Stakeholders agreed that bridging the rural-urban divide requires not just infrastructure but also collaboration, transparency, and long-term financing.
As CONIWAS and IRC Ghana continue to champion inclusive and resilient WASH systems, the message from the forum was clear — with unity, innovation, and sustained action, safely managed water for all Ghanaians is within reach.