Report By: Ishmael Barfi
Only 17.2 per cent of Ghana’s rural population has access to safely managed drinking water, prompting renewed calls for increased investment, improved regulation and sustainable service delivery to underserved communities.
The concern was highlighted at the 37th Annual MOLE WASH Conference, organised by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and its partners from November 1 to 6, 2026, at Aqua Safari Resort in Ada, Greater Accra Region.
Held under the theme, “Accelerating Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery for Last-Mile Communities: Options, Strategies and Actions,” the conference brought together 168 participants from government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, traditional authorities and the media.
Participants noted that rural communities, peri-urban settlements, low-income urban households and persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to safe water and sanitation services.
The conference also highlighted Ghana’s sanitation challenges, with national basic sanitation coverage estimated at 32 per cent, 17.7 per cent of the population still practising open defecation, and only 16 per cent of healthcare facilities having basic sanitation services.
To address the rural water deficit, the conference called on government to adopt a comprehensive rural water investment strategy and explore blended financing models to mobilise resources beyond grants and concessional funding, while ensuring that services remain affordable for poor households.
It further urged the government to ensure timely release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocations for WASH, including the committed 20 per cent allocation comprising 10 per cent each for water and sanitation.
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were also encouraged to dedicate at least five per cent of their Internally Generated Funds to WASH and publish annual reports on allocations, releases and expenditure.
The conference recommended scaling up Ghana Water Limited’s Social Connection Fund to support low-income households in urban and peri-urban communities that cannot afford the cost of connecting to piped water services. It proposed transparent eligibility criteria aligned with the Ghana National Household Registry.
Beyond financing, participants called for the reactivation of the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group in the first half of 2027 to improve coordination between government and development partners.
They also urged the enactment of an Environmental Sanitation Bill, the establishment of a regulatory entity for the sector and accelerated work on the proposed Water Services Act to strengthen oversight and accountability.
Climate threats, including floods, droughts, coastal erosion, saline intrusion and pollution of water sources through illegal mining, were identified as growing risks to water and sanitation infrastructure.
The conference therefore called for climate adaptation measures under Ghana’s National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0 to be integrated into district development plans and budgets, alongside climate-risk assessments and investment in resilient WASH infrastructure.
Participants also called for stronger protection of freshwater resources, professionalisation of rural water services and improved maintenance of WASH facilities in schools, healthcare facilities and public spaces.
CONIWAS committed to tracking the implementation of the resolutions through a results and accountability framework and publishing a six-month progress report by May 2027, ahead of the 38th MOLE WASH Conference.
The conference was formally opened by the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim. The theme address was delivered by Ing. Michael Forson, Technical Advisor (WASH) at the Office of the President.
The communiqué was signed by Dr Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of CONIWAS, on November 5, 2026, at Aqua Safari Resort, Big Ada.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com