Accra: Stakeholders and players in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector in Ghana have urged the government to ensure strong financing of the sector in the 2025 budget. They emphasized the need for an annual investment of $1.7 billion up to 2030 for Ghana to achieve comprehensive water, sanitation, and hygiene services for all.
According to Ghana News Agency, this level of government financing is deemed critical for bridging the gap in access to WASH services and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. Without sustained investments, Ghana risks falling short of universal access by 2030, potentially exacerbating inequalities.
Mr. Ibrahim Musah, Head of Policy, Strategy, and Campaigns at WaterAid Ghana, indicated that the 'Resetting Ghana' agenda must critically transform the WASH sector. He highlighted the 2024 election manifesto by President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which promised an expansion of social services with a key focus on WASH to promote equity and social justice.
The WASH manifesto, prepared by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) ahead of the 2024 elections, also calls for increased financing and policy attention to achieve universal access to basic water and sanitation services by 2030. Mr. Musah noted that stakeholders are keen to see how the administration's financial plan will translate into actionable policies and budgetary allocations in the WASH sector.
The 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) Report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) highlighted serious inequalities in access between urban and rural areas and among different demographic groups. Sanitation coverage is estimated to be around 25.3 percent, with solid and liquid waste management situations remaining poor. Hygiene coverage stands at approximately 50 percent, with ongoing challenges in promoting effective hand hygiene post-COVID-19.
To accelerate the achievement of SDG-6, the government of Ghana is urged to increase investment in sanitation and hygiene at household, school, and healthcare facility levels. This call to action is aimed at fostering comprehensive national development and bridging the existing gaps in WASH services.