Report By: Ishmael Barfi
The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and its partners have called for urgent policy, financing and institutional reforms to improve access to climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, particularly in underserved communities across Ghana.
The call was made at the 37th Annual MOLE WASH Conference, held from November 1 to 6, 2026, at Aqua Safari Resort in Ada, Greater Accra Region, under the theme: “Accelerating Climate-Resilient WASH Service Delivery for Last-Mile Communities: Options, Strategies and Actions”.
The conference, a civil society-led multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing sector performance and influencing policy, brought together 168 participants from government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, NGOs, community and faith-based organisations, academia, the private sector, traditional authorities and the media.
The conference was formally opened by the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim. The opening session was chaired by Nene Agudey Obichere III, Ada State Mankralo and representative of the Paramount Chief of the Ada Traditional Area, Djetse Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III. The theme address was delivered by Ing. Michael Forson, Technical Advisor (WASH) at the Office of the President.
The Ada East District Chief Executive, representatives of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, the Development Partners Lead and the 2026/27 Child Sanitation Diplomat also participated in the opening session.
Deliberations focused on WASH governance and accountability, sustainable financing, inclusive service delivery and climate-resilient WASH in institutions and public spaces.
Participants expressed concern that, despite progress in basic water coverage, rural communities, peri-urban settlements, the urban poor and persons with disabilities continue to face significant service gaps and climate-related risks.
The conference noted that only about 17 per cent of rural Ghanaians have access to safely managed drinking water, while national basic sanitation coverage stands at approximately 32 per cent. It further observed that 17.7 per cent of the population still practise open defecation.
Floods, droughts, coastal erosion, saline intrusion and pollution of raw water sources through irresponsible mining were identified as major threats to WASH infrastructure and service delivery.
The conference consequently affirmed that equitable access to climate-resilient WASH services is both a human right and a national development priority.
Key resolutions and recommendations
On sector coordination, the conference urged the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to reactivate the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group within the first half of 2027. It called for regular meetings and publication of outcomes to strengthen coordination and keep WASH on the national development agenda.
CONIWAS committed to supporting the reactivation of the working group and engaging relevant parliamentary select committees between December 2026 and October 2027.
On financing, participants commended government’s commitment to allocating at least 20 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to WASH, comprising 10 per cent each for water and sanitation, as well as the US$1.7 billion annual commitment under the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme, captured in the 2024 Ghana WASH Compact.
The conference urged the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to ensure timely and predictable release of the funds and called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to fully utilise their allocations, prioritise underserved communities and publish annual reports on allocations, releases and expenditure. Assemblies were also encouraged to dedicate at least five per cent of their Internally Generated Funds to WASH.
CONIWAS pledged to track WASH-related DACF allocations and expenditure in selected assemblies and engage relevant ministries and agencies.
The conference also recommended scaling up Ghana Water Limited’s Social Connection Fund to help low-income urban and peri-urban households connect to safe piped water. It proposed transparent eligibility criteria aligned with the Ghana National Household Registry to ensure support reaches households unable to afford connection charges.
With only 17.2 per cent of Ghana’s rural population having access to safely managed drinking water, participants called for a comprehensive rural water investment strategy and blended financing to attract additional resources while maintaining affordability for poor households. CONIWAS pledged to support these efforts through evidence-based advocacy.
On regulation, the conference called for the enactment of an Environmental Sanitation Bill to establish a regulatory entity for the sector and urged government to accelerate work on the proposed Water Services Act. It also recommended coordinated, data-driven enforcement across the WASH value chain, particularly in rural water and sanitation services, by October 2027. CONIWAS committed to supporting the process through policy briefs and stakeholder engagement.
To strengthen climate resilience, participants urged the relevant ministries, the Environmental Protection Authority and the National Development Planning Commission to integrate WASH adaptation actions under Ghana’s National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0 into district development plans and annual budgets.
They also called for climate-risk screening and water and sanitation safety planning in the design and management of WASH systems, alongside the development of bankable projects to attract climate finance for underserved communities. CONIWAS pledged to build members’ capacity, monitor implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and disseminate NDC 3.0.
Rural services, inclusion and water resource protection
The conference further called for professionalising rural water service delivery through performance-driven systems, stronger engagement with Small Water Enterprises and communities, and improved service delivery structures. It urged the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to strengthen stakeholder engagement and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to develop guidelines for private-sector participation.
Ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, scheduled for December 8–10 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, participants urged Ghana to champion the needs of last-mile communities and strengthen efforts to uphold the human rights to water and sanitation.
On WASH in public spaces and institutions, the conference highlighted poor sanitation conditions in markets, lorry parks and religious centres, as well as inadequate maintenance of facilities in schools and healthcare institutions. It noted that only 16 per cent of healthcare facilities in Ghana have basic sanitation services.
MMDAs, working with the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, traditional and religious leaders, were urged to enforce operation and maintenance guidelines, assign clear management responsibilities and provide dedicated recurrent budgets. New and rehabilitated facilities should also be climate-resilient and accessible to women, girls and persons with disabilities.
Participants also raised concerns about the degradation of rivers and freshwater bodies through illegal mining, deforestation and sand winning. They commended the Water Resources Commission for its watershed management efforts in the White Volta and Black Volta basins and recommended extending such investments to other threatened river basins, alongside sustained enforcement against illegal activities around water bodies and forest reserves.
Monitoring and accountability
To ensure implementation, CONIWAS will work with sector stakeholders to track the resolutions through a results and accountability matrix outlining responsible institutions, expected actions and timelines.
A six-month progress report is expected by May 2027, ahead of the 38th MOLE WASH Conference. It will also assess progress on commitments made at MOLE XXXVI in 2025, including the Environmental Sanitation Bill, DACF releases for WASH, National Adaptation Plan monitoring and action against illegal mining affecting water bodies.
Sector institutions were urged to align their annual work plans with the communiqué, while a joint stakeholder dialogue will be organised before the next conference to review progress, showcase innovations and update priorities.
The communiqué was issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Aqua Safari Resort, Big Ada, and signed by Dr Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of CONIWAS.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
