GHANA: USAID promises $100 million over 5 years for drinking water and sanitation

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is renewing its support to the Government of Ghana in the water and sanitation sectors. After the $45.5 million loan granted in November 2021 for a five-year water and sanitation project in the north of the country, the American agency is committed to releasing additional financing of $100 million for further strengthen drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services in Ghana.

According to the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, the $100 million package will primarily finance work planned under a new high-priority National Plan of the States' Global Water Strategy. -United for Ghana. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Ghana to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to these three essential services. This will help improve health and promote economic development ,” says Virginia Palmer.

The increase in drinking water facilities, improved toilet blocks and hand washing facilities should therefore, by 2027, ensure the supply of drinking water to an additional 1 million people in Ghana, as well as as safe and sustainable sanitation and hygiene services. “Additional funding of $20 million will be mobilized from the public and private sectors in Ghana to achieve this objective ,” says USAID.

In the West African country, the current rate of access to drinking water in urban areas is 96.8% compared to 74% in rural areas according to the 2021 population and housing census published by the Ghana Statistical Service. The United Nations estimates the access rate to sanitation at 25%, and 42% for basic hygiene services.