Ghana: 14M water project to bring safe water to 100,000 people

The four-year project, will benefit low-income communities such as Wa and Bolgatanga in Ghana’s Upper West and East region

More than 100,000 people, including an estimated 40,000 children In Ghana, people are set to benefit from a new water project aimed at supporting the Government of Ghana in expanding access to safe drinking water for vulnerable low-income urban areas.

This comes after the Embassy of Denmark and UNICEF announced the launch of a joint initiative valued at DKK 100,000,000 (approximately $14 million) to support the Government of Ghana in expanding access to safe drinking water for vulnerable low-income urban areas.

The four-year project, titled Water Access and Water Efficiency for Low-Income Areas in Ghana, will benefit low-income communities such as Wa and Bolgatanga in Ghana’s Upper West and East regions.

It will apply the Water Safety Plan approach, which aims to reduce the risk of drinking water contamination from the water source, through treatment and the distribution pipelines, all the way to the household level.

57% of Ghana’s population currently lack access to safely managed drinking water

Ghana Water Limited (GWL) will collaborate to implement this initiative, aiming to develop and roll out an effective, sustainable approach to delivering water services to underserved communities. This includes establishing a sustainable funding mechanism for identifiable low-income areas.

According to UNICEF, despite solid progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030), 57% of Ghana’s population currently lack access to safely managed drinking water.

WaterAid Ghana emphasises that the government must expand investments in sanitation and hygiene at the household, school and healthcare facility levels to accelerate progress toward SDG6. 

The Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme says that achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene will require an annual expenditure of $1.7 billion until 2030.

Jakob Linulf, Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, said the SDG goals will not be achieved without addressing the climate crisis. 

“Denmark is proud to be a green partner on Ghana’s journey towards achievement of SDG 6 on universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water,” he said.

“UNICEF is pleased to collaborate on this initiative because it addresses the issue of affordable water connections for vulnerable households. This transformative initiative will improve the lives of families, particularly children,” said Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Representative in Ghana.

Cover photo:   borgogniels©123rf