Safe WASH is sine qua non for good health

2025 Budget: Expectations of Water and Sanitation Sector

Ibrahim Musah Opinion Mar - 08 - 2025 , 09:12 11 minutes read

As Ghana embarks on its ‘Resetting Ghana’ agenda, the upcoming national budget presents a critical opportunity to transform the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.

Without sustainable investments, Ghana risks failing to achieve universal access by 2030, further deepening inequalities and stalling economic growth.

In its 2024 election manifesto, the President pledged to expand social services to promote equity and social justice.

A key focus is on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), recognising it as a critical sector requiring political prioritisation and sustainable funding to catalyse progress in other areas of Ghana's economy.

The government’s commitment to WASH is further evidenced by its endorsement of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) 2024 WASH Manifesto, which emphasises the need for increased financing and policy attention to achieve universal access to basic water and sanitation services by 2030.

As the administration prepares to unveil its financial plan, stakeholders are keen to see how these commitments will translate into actionable policies and budgetary allocations, particularly in the WASH sector, to foster comprehensive national development.

Context

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 seeks “to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.”

However, it directly influences health outcomes, education, economic productivity and environmental sustainability.

At the heart of this SDG 6 is sustainability, which means protecting and preserving rivers, water bodies and freshwater resources, which should not be handled on a matter of political expediency.

The state and citizens must forge a partnership to tackle issues of the pollution of water bodies, stop illegal mining on water bodies and around rivers.

It also means putting in place policy measures such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Ghana Statistical Service 2021 Population and Housing Census Report estimates water coverage to be 87.7 per cent, albeit there are serious inequalities in access between urban and rural areas, men and women, boys and girls.

Sanitation coverage is estimated at 25.3 per cent, with both solid and liquid waste situation poor in Ghana. Hygiene coverage is around 50 per cent with challenges in promotion of effective hand hygiene post-COVID-19.

Leave no one behind is the mantra of the SDGs. Which means social equity and justice is at the core if the 17 SDGs are to be achieved. Importantly also, No Poverty (SDG1), No hunger (SDG2), Good health and well-being (SDG3), Gender equality (SDG 5) and all other SDGs cannot be achieved without priority attention to clean water and sanitation (SDG6).

This is because safe water and decent sanitation are the requirements for life and dignity, and represent the foundation of development at family, community and national levels.

Least funded

The WASH sector is one of the least-funded sectors. It has remained under one per cent of government expenditure since 2016, with higher donor funding which is unsustainable.

To accelerate the achievement of SDG6, the government of Ghana must increase investment in sanitation and hygiene at household, schools and healthcare facility levels.

Estimates from the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme indicate that Ghana’s WASH sector needs an investment of GH$1.7 billion per annum up to 2030 if we are to achieve water, sanitation and hygiene for all.

The breakdown includes cost for Water Resources Management (US$8m), Urban Water Supply (US$420m), Rural/Community Water supply (US$350m), Basic sanitation for rural and urban (US$800m), hygiene (US$60m) and system strengthening (US$60m).

These investment requirements include the cost of maintaining existing services and expanding services to all between 2021-2030. With the reset agenda and reduced number of ministries, expenditure rationalisation and prudent financial management, this is possible for the government. WASH needs sustainable, predictable and equitable financing.

Though allocation to the sector as a proportion of government expenditure increased from 0.59 per cent in 2023, and as a proportion to GDP, it is still below the eThekwini target of 0.5 per cent of GDP.

The WASH sector has remained predominantly donor funded. In 2022, 73 per cent of the total budget allocated to the sector was from donor sources while 22 per cent came from the government. In 2023, donor funding for the sector increased to 92 per cent, an increase of 18 per cent over the 2022 allocation, while the government allocation reduced to eight per cent in 2023.

In 2024, donor funding was 95 per cent, while government funding was five per cent.

This is not encouraging, and certainly not sustainable as ongoing gaps in aid amply demonstrate.

The government must endeavour to reverse this trend if it wants to achieve WASH for All in Ghana and accelerate the attainment of the SDG6.

It is important for government to take ownership of financing the sector and partner with the private sector using the mechanisms of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Water infrastructure is capital intensive and requires huge capital investment.

Ghana Water Limited (GWL) needs huge financing to replace aged pipelines to boost safe water supply.

Regional capitals such as Tamale, Cape Coast, Ho, Takoradi, Kumasi and parts of Accra are experiencing daily water shortages because demand outstrips supply.

Rural areas where community water supply is most needed also require huge investments.

The situation is compounded by activities of illegal miners on river bodies where GWL intake points are found, especially in Central, Western, Eastern and Ashanti regions.

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) which is undergoing reforms to professionalise rural and small-town water delivery needs sustainable funding to expand their operations as well.

Hygiene infrastructure and education at public places including lorry parks, recreational centres, markets and other areas equally need investment which was also costed in the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme.

The gains made in the hygiene programme post-COVID 19 are almost gone.

Social equity:

The GoG has committed to safeguarding investment in the social sector even within the three-year IMF programme.

The WASH sector is at the heart of the social sector.

Safe WASH is sine quo non for good health, livelihood activities, education among others. Indeed, none of the 17 SDGs will be achieved without necessary attention paid to safe WASH.

Healthcare facilities (HCF), WASH in Schools need adequate supply of safe water to provide quality health care and ensure safe birth.

Patients who attend hospitals must use safe and hygienic toilets and wash their hands with soap to prevent hospital-acquired infections.

The budget allocations should reflect historical geographic development imbalances and sub-sector inequities.

The District Assembly Common Fund should be released on a timely basis with robust monitoring of utilisation to ensure value for money.

Economic growth:

Safe water supply is critical for economic growth. It is central to propel both macro and micro economic indicators because it is an enabler to production and sustains the productive base of any economy.

Food sellers, market women, traders at all levels and factory workers need adequate supply of safe water to produce their goods to earn income which can be taxed as a source of revenue for government.

Decent sanitation and hygiene will improve public health and promote citizens’ well-being. Indeed, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

Ministerial alignment/Institutional re-alignment:

The Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) is back to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. It was under the Ministry of Local Government in 2016, before the creation of the defunct Sanitation and Water Resources when it was moved there alongside the Water Directorate.

There is the need to maintain and improve coordination between the EHSD and the Water Directorate which is now at the Works, Housing and Water Resources Ministry to improve the fortunes of WASH Sector.

Importantly, there is the urgent need to promote inter-Ministerial coordination among key and allied ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Minister of state in charge of Climate Change, to ensure policy coherence, monitoring and supervision for effective delivery.

Private sector participation:

Small Water Enterprises (SWEs) should be encouraged with clear service area delineation to incentivise them to bring in the much-needed capital, with clear PPP arrangements and clear regulatory regime for water quality.

Illegal mining menace:

The threat of illegal mining/galamsey on rivers, freshwater bodies and forest is a big one and should not be ignored. Water quality is challenged by illegal mining, uncontrolled pollution and dumping of refuse.

Climate Change:

Climate change is an existential threat. Luckily, in addition to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, there is now the Minister of State responsible for climate change and sustainability.

This tells how the President is serious about tackling climate change.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAPs) and National Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate change should be fully funded by the government to implement the adaptation measures to stem the tide of climate change. The climate crises represent water crises!

Our calls

• Make allocation of at least US$1.7 billion for WASH issues in 2025 budget.
• Make appropriate funding allocation to solve the problem of illegal mining in water bodies
• Make appropriate funding allocation to implement NAPs and NDC policies on climate change.

The writer is the Head of Strategy, Policy and Campaigns, WaterAid Ghana

Pull quote without necessary attention paid to safe WASH.