By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
A study conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) on water infrastructure, services and stakeholders in the Western region have revealed that Limited Mechanised Pipe Systems (LMPSs) dominate the pipe schemes in the region.
The report said 931 out 999 (93%) water systems in the region are made up of LMPSs. While more than three-quarters (78%) of the standpipes are functional
The study said about 88% of the people, or 1,804,345 people, are served with handpumps and pipe schemes.
The study findings were made public at the 100th edition of the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) meeting held in Accra.
Highlights from the study showed that Water coverage in the Western region stands at 87%. Safely managed water systems stood at 11%, basic or limited services is 77%, while the under-served population stands at 12%.
Private individuals (36%), development partners (DPs) (19%), and NGOs and companies (12%) are the leading financiers of many of the pipe schemes
Another disturbing trend which came to light during the study is that over 40.2% of pipe scheme in the region carry out water testing only at time of construction, and usually (71.4%) done by certified testing institutions.
Meanwhile, findings from the study suggest that the 93.7% water quality is generally acceptable.
According to findings from the study, dubbed’Mapping Water Services in the Western Region’ under the Rural Water Utilization Project” (R-WUP) funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Ghana through IRC Ghana and conducted by the GSS revealed that there are many different organizations involved in providing water services in the Western Region
It said most common type of water system management model in the region is the community management model where community leaders serves as major service providers
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) are also major providers of water services in the region. While private organizations and NGOs are very visible providing water services in the region
Background
The “Rural Water Utilitisation Project” (R-WUP), funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation aims to support the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in its growth as a professionalized public utility in Ghana and to play a stronger regulatory role within the sector in the context of rural water reforms in Ghana.
CWSA initiated a policy reform in 2017, to expand its mandate to include the management of piped water systems in rural areas, and thus in effect become a rural utility.
Four years into the reform agenda, CWSA recognizes that it needs to evolve to become the provider of safe water to residents served by the about 1200 pipe water systems in Ghana.
The Project is supporting CWSA to establish an effective rural and small-town water utility model approach in the Western region, with strengthened capacity at the national level, which can be replicated across the country.
The implementing partners working on the project are Community Water and Sanitation Agency, IRC, Safe Water Network (SWN) and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP).
The project objectives are:
a) Develop CWSA internal organizational change management process to drive the transition towards a rural utility.
b) Improve the operational efficiency in the management of water systems.
c) Develop infrastructure for delivering safely managed water.
d) Support sector strengthening and learning.