By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The WASH Program Manager for World Vision Ghana, Robel L. Wamisho, says basic sanitation situation in schools and health facilities is a challenge in Ghana. Education Management Information System (EMIS) data for 2018 estimates that 30% and 40% of public schools lack access to safe drinking water and improved toilets, respectively.
Mr Wamisho continued that though there is insufficient data available on sanitation, hygiene, and waste management in health facilities, surveys indicate that 29% of health facilities operate without basic water services.
Mr. Wamisho made the observation when he stood in for the National Director of World Vision Ghana, Dickens Thunder, at a dialogue on District level WASH Financing in Northern Ghana under the Enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ( EN-WASH) Activity at Jirapa in the Upper West Region.
The EN-WASH Activity is a five-year USAID-funded project awarded to Global Communities with World Vision as one of the sub-grantees. The project is aimed at facilitating sustainable WASH services in selected districts in six regions in Ghana. They are the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, North East, Savannah, and Oti Regions.
Participants
Mr. Wamisho told the dialogue session that the project revolves around the adoption of a systems strengthening approach in partnership with the Government of Ghana to enhance governance and planning for WASH service delivery, private sector engagement, and speed up the adoption of convenient and safe WASH behaviours.
He indicated that many countries, including Ghana, are racing against time to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals targets for WASH.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, 87.7% of the population in Ghana have access to basic water supply, though there is significant disparity between urban and rural areas. The census further showed that 96.4% of the urban population has access to basic water supply services, whilst that of the rural population stood at 74.4% and among regions from 97.6% in Greater Accra to 54.8% in the North East.
Making reference to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Mr Wamisho indicated that about 8% of Ghanaian households continue to rely on unsafe water sources.
A Behaviour Change Specialist from Global Communities, Martin Sumbo announced that the project will be implemented in 30 districts across the six beneficiary Regions. He pointed out that the project is targeting 300,000 people at the end of the year, with 250,000 people pencilled in to benefit in respect of water over the period.
A WASH Specialist, Patrick Apoya, emphasised the need for each MMDA to have its own work plan on WASH that will ensure universal coverage by 2030. He stated that Ghana needs $5.035 billion to provide water and sanitation sustainably to the citizens. Mr Apoya added that the country should be investing at least $900 million per annum but it is currently investing about $142 million per year.
The MCE for East Mamprusi, Hajia Rashida Poanaa Mahama, described the dialogue session as a God-sent. The municipality is one of the youngest in the North East Region and is in need of WASH intervention. She expressed gratitude to World Vision Ghana Global Communities for enrolling her municipality in the second phase of the project.
The DCE for Bawku West, Tahiru Issahaku Ahmed, observed that MMDAs should think outside the box to finance WASH interventions in view of their dwindling financial positions relating to the creation of more districts, which has affected the quantum of money each Assembly will get from the District Assemblies Common Fund.
