UNIVERSITY OF GHANA-LEGON FACULTY OF SCIENCE INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION STUDIES M.

PHIL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

COURSE: ESCI 610 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY QUESTION: CHALLENGES OF WATER SERVICE DELIVERY IN GHANA STUDENT ID: 10362863 DATE: MARCH 27, 2012

Introduction All peoples, whatever their stage of development and their social and economic conditions, have the right to have access to drinking water in quantities and of a quality equal to their basic needs(Mar del Plata Water Conference 1977). Water is the most important of all public services. It is the most essential necessity of life after oxygen. Anything that disturbs the provision and supply of water therefore tends to disturb the very survival of humanity. According to International Water Association (IWA 2004), access to good, safe and reliable drinking water is one of the most basic needs of human society and as such requires integrated approach, close cooperation and partnership between all stake holders. (IWA. 2004), Research has shown that access to good, reliable and sufficient water supply increases the health status of people. However it is unfortunate that many people in the world today are lacking such quantity and quality of water needed. Although water covers about 70 percent of the Earths surface, only 1 percent of it is available to us as a source of drinking. It is understood that our body is made up of about 70 percent water and that it controls virtually every aspect of our health. The importance of water is not only attached to the drinking but also to cooking, bathing, washing and other activities. Where provisions for water and sanitation are inadequate, the diseases that arise from contaminated food, water and hands are among the worlds leading causes of premature death and serious illness. (http://www.epa.gov/docs/owmitnet/water-efficiency/pubs/supply.htm). The challenges facing many countries in the world today in their struggle for economic and social development is increasingly related to water. One of the international goals set for the year 2015 in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and in the plan of implementation of the world summit on sustainable development is reducing the proportion of people without adequate access to water and basic sanitation by one-half. The Water Utility Partnership, an organisation that deals with capacity building of water supply and sanitation utilities in Africa, has noted that: public water services in many African countries have been assigned to a single water authority and the abilities of governments to deliver water adequately have been negatively affected by a number of factors.

In Ghana rainfall is not scarce and several rivers do not cease to flow, but clean water is denied millions of people. Similar to the urban water sector in many developing countries, there are serious constraints to meeting the challenge to provide adequate water for all urban residents. Water supply shortages and quality deterioration are among the problems which require greater attention and action. Various strategies are always being developed to make water accessible to all inhabitants. However due to insufficient structures coupled with rapid population growth and urbanisation, the gap between demand and supply of water continues to widen. In a specially-commissioned survey for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) dubbed GEO-2000, 200 leading scientists from 50 countries around the world identified a scarcity of clean water as one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. It was found out that 20% of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water.http://www.grida.no/geo2000/pressrel/water.htm. In the developing countries in particular, governments face problems of provision of social facilities, especially the supply of sufficient water of good quality at a reasonable price to their citizens. Although the number of people with access to safe water and sanitation grew between 1980 and 1990, population growth erased any substantial gain, especially in urban areas. Between 1990 and 2000, an extra 900 million people were born in places without water and sanitation. (http://www.itt.com/waterbook/mega_cities.asp). Most of Africas populations live in rural areas (62 percent) and yet access is lowest in the rural areas, at about 47 percent for water and 45 percent for sanitation. Low access to a safe water supply and adequate sanitation is the root cause of many diseases that afflict Africa and a contributory factor to the high infant and maternal mortality rates. http://www.afdb.org/portal/page?pageid=313,165531&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Ghanas population has multiplied several times since independence when urban pipe-borne systems were constructed. Currently about 44% of the population is urban. About 58% of urban water supply goes to domestic consumption, 24% to commercial/industrial customers and 18% to government and public institutions. Urban water supply coverage keeps decreasing from the 2002 figure of 59% just as the investments needed keep dwindling by the year. (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/).

The World Health Organization publication in 2000, says 75 % of all diseases in developing countries arose from polluted drinking water. That same year, UNICEF said that: the consumption of unsafe water contributes to about 2.2 million deaths annually. The UN World Development Report Water for People, Water for Life shows that the amount of disease and lost man hours due to unclean water is vastly greater than the cost of improving water systems. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/artikel.php?ID=64473 Ghana Water Policy

In response to a non-optimal production and utilization of water for consumptive and nonconsumptive uses in Ghana, a policy document was developed to ensure efficient and effective management of available water resources. Ghana had since the mid 1990s, been implementing a string of reforms in the water sector aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the production and utilisation of water. The implementation of these reforms failed to achieve their purpose due to lack of an effective interface among key stakeholder institutions with a view to integrating and harmonizing their various activities. Given this phenomenon, the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, in concert with other stakeholder institutions and interest groups, in 2004, commenced the process for the formulation of a consolidated national water policy which became a reality in 2007. The policy document contains sections on integrated water resources management (including water for energy, food security and transportation), urban and community/small town water delivery. The policy also highlights the international legal framework for the domestic and transboundary utilisation of water resources. The National Water Policy is underpinned by the principles enunciated in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Africa Water Vision of the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD).

Ghana Water Supply Policy Three directions for water and sanitation management commonly advocated in the international policy arena in the 1990s were: to develop more integrated water resource management at the river basin level and manage demand more effectively (rather than simply withdrawing more and more water to meet the growing demands); to rely more heavily on private sector enterprises and

market mechanisms to provide water and sanitation (rather than depending on public sector) and to devolve responsibilities for water and sanitation management to the lowest appropriate level ( rather than keeping all decision making centralised)- (UN Habitat, 2003) The government of Ghana considers the provision of potable water as a critical element in its policy for sustainable economic development of the country, and is therefore committed to ensuring that all Ghanaians have access to potable water. The policy objectives are to provide affordable, equitable and sustainable access to safe drinking water throughout Ghana through the establishment of efficient and effective institutional arrangements and improvement in management and investment in the sector. Among the government objectives are also to guarantee the availability of water in sufficient quantities for cultivation of food crops; watering of livestock and sustainable freshwater fisheries to ensure sustainable food security; as well as ensuring the availability of water for hydropower generation; industrial use; water transport; and recreation in the country. Good governance and a stable macro-economic environment are expected to provide the enabling environment for sustainable potable water supply development and management. In line with national policy objectives, government has undertaken major reconstruction towards liberalization of the provision of potable water. A key objective of the policy is to involve the private sector in the management of water systems and to attract private sector capital inflows for the rapid expansion and rehabilitation of the water sector in order to increase accessibility of all Ghanaians to reliable potable water supply.

Water Utilization in Ghana

Consumptive Uses The main consumptive uses of water in Ghana are water supply, irrigation and livestock watering. On the basis of surface water resources alone, the consumptive water demand for 2020 has been projected to be 5 billion m3, which is equivalent to only some 12% of the total surface water resources. Notwithstanding the availability of water to meet water supply, there are deficits in coverage. While urban water supply coverage is estimated at 55% (2004), the rural and small town coverage is 51.6% (2004). With respect to irrigation, the projected demand by 2020 is about 400,000m3, to cover a projected area of 100,000 hectares.

Non-Consumptive Uses The main non-consumptive uses are inland fisheries, water transport and hydropower generation. Impoundments and reservoirs have been constructed for hydropower generation, potable water supply and irrigation. The first hydroelectric dam, constructed in 1965, is located 100 km from the source of the Volta River. The dam created one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, covering an area of about 8,500 km2 at the Full Supply Level of 88.5 metres. A smaller, shallower impoundment, the Kpong Head-pond, covering an area of about 40 km2, was created in 1981 when another hydroelectric dam was completed at Kpong, 20 km downstream of Akosombo. Other important impoundments are the Weija and Owabi Reservoirs on the Densu and Offin Rivers, respectively. The projected demand for hydropower generation by 2020 is 378,430 m3 as against a projected supply of 1,733,380 m3. On the Volta Lake, river navigation is undertaken on a 415 kilometers stretch, from Akosombo to Buipe. The non-consumptive demand can also be met from the surface water available

Ministries and Institutions in water delivery services Several institutions play various roles in Ghanas Water and Sanitation Sector. These include Ministries, Agencies, and Local Government institutions. This section presents brief information on institutional arrangements and how they link with each other from policy and coordination to implementation and regulation, as well as a bit on External Support Agencies and NGOs

Sector Ministries Ministry of Water Resources, Works and housing (MWRWH) The Ministry is responsible for setting policies and strategies for the water sector in the country including water resources management and supply of drinking water to both urban and rural communities. There are three key public sector institutions/agencies under the ministry; the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Community water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). They execute the Ministrys programmes, policies, plans and strategies on water resources management and drinking water supply in the country. The Ministry has established a Water Directorate to oversee sector policy formulation and review, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the agencies, and co-ordination of the activities of donors

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development This is the Ministry responsible for the overall policy formulation and strategic guidelines, planning, coordination, collaboration, monitoring and evaluation of programs for the environmental health and sanitation sector - both liquid and solid waste. It is also responsible for the efficient administration of all local government institutions including the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. It should be noted that these MMDAs are also responsible for the management and coordination of water and sanitation programmes within the communities under their jurisdiction. An Environmental Health and Sanitation Division under the Ministry was upgraded into a Directorate in 2008. The EHSD is responsible for coordinating the activities of all the key sector institutions including MMDAs involved the environmental sanitation sector. The EHSD provides sector coordination and facilitation of MMDAs in implementing national-level and other ministries programmes on environmental sanitation

Ministry of Education Through the School Health Education Programme (SHEP), the Ministry is tasked to implement the hygiene promotion and the school health programme in water and sanitation in all educational institutions particularly at the basic level.

Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service are responsible for the management of health services in the country and providing health data, supporting health education activities, and Ghana Water and Sanitation Sector Performance Report 2009 Page 24 contributing to regulation and standard-setting for health services. The health sector relies on environmental sanitation data and information to contribute to disease prevention and control.

Sector Agencies and Departments The Water Resources Commission (WRC) Created in 1996 by Act 522, the WRC is responsible for the regulation and management of the utilization of water resources and the coordination of policies related to its functions. Among its major tasks are the granting of water rights and the allocation of water resources among competing users.

Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) Established by Act 310 of 1965 as the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC), and converted to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) by Act 461 of 1993, it is a stateowned company responsible for producing and distributing potable water to the urban population for domestic, public and industrial purposes. Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) Established by Act 564 of 1998, the CWSA is a facilitating agency under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. Its mandate is to facilitate the provision of safe drinking water and related sanitation and hygiene services to rural communities and small towns in Ghana. Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) Established under the Local Government Act, 462, MMDAs are responsible for the preparation of the District Water and Sanitation Plans. This responsibility, however, does not include urban water supply. MMDAs play a crucial role of ensuring that facilities provided to rural and small towns are adequately managed and maintained. They are required to ensure that Water and Sanitation Committees and Water and Sanitation Development Boards are formed and given recognition to manage rural and small town water facilities provided. MMDAs are also expected to establish a budget line for water and sanitation either through central government allocations or through internally generated funds. Development partners Development partners play a very important and indispensable role in Ghanas water and sanitation sector. These roles extend from financial assistance to technical assistance and, through participation in (and sometimes championing) sector dialogues, contribute to development of sector policies and strategies. There are many external development assistance partners working in the sector. Development partners currently contribute about 80% of total WASH sector funding1. The partners include: African Development Bank (AfDB), Agence Franaise de Dvloppement (AFD), CIDA, DANIDA. NGOs Though currently difficult to estimate the exact contribution of NGOs in Ghanas Water in terms of sector financing, there is a lot of field evidence to suggest that the significant presence of both international and local NGOs and Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) in the WASH Sector in Ghana is indeed helping to accelerate sector growth.

WaterAid, World Vision International (WVI), Church of Christ, the Catholic Church, Plan International and Adventist Development and Relief Organization (ADRA), are among international NGOs sometimes playing roles of donors and implementers. The formation of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) in 2003 has also contributed to a better sector coordination, having been collaborating with the MWRWH and its agencies, particularly CWSA. In effect this has enabled CONIWAS to bring its members to conform to sectors procedures and guidelines, a situation which was previously missing.

Challenges in Water Delivery Services

As has already been said, in Ghana, the challenge of adequate potable water supply to the people is of concern to government, individuals and the general public even before independence. It was out of the difficulties that government faced in attempts to supply potable water to the people of Ghana that led to the idea of privatizing the water sector in 2004. This however was met with fierce resistance and opposition by a good section of the Ghanaian public in 2004. Below are some of the major challenges facing water delivery services in Ghana;

Budget Constraints and Financing Challenges CWSA has not received the full complement of its annual budget either from government or its development partners over the years. In the case of government there has been little or no contribution to the investment budget, and funds for administrative expenses have always been cut back by more than half ( MWRWH, 2009) The key sources of sector financing include tariffs, government budget allocations, private sector investments and donor contributions. The reality is that tariffs are often insufficient to cover O&M, especially at small towns and community systems, and do not support any significant capital investments.

Limited Capacity at District Assembly Level for Water and Sanitation Delivery The capacity of the districts to effectively manage water and sanitation projects under their jurisdiction is still a challenge. Apart from the fact that the proposed Works Departments are not

established in many DAs, the rampant transfer of trained staff on specific water and sanitation projects also immensely undermines the capacity of the DAs.

Hydro-geological challenges Hydro-geological challenges are more pronounced in the Northern Region where insufficient ground water leads to low drilling success rates. This makes the achievement of project targets difficult. In the Eastern and Volta Regions, the difficulty arises in abstracting water in the mountainous areas, whereas in the Brong Ahafo Region the challenge is mainly associated with mud drilling.

Long processes involved in the use of the Procurement Law The requirements of the Procurement Act are quite cumbersome, time consuming and laborious to deal with. This situation thus leads to delays in the execution of some projects. The evaluation process is burdensome especially at the DAs where the expertise is limited when it comes to water and sanitation projects.

Institutional capacity issues Ghana enacted in 2007 the National Water Policy that provides an adequate framework for the sustainable development of water resources and the provision of water supply services. However, the implementation and enforcement of the policy has been slow due in part to insufficient professional staff and operational budget at the Water Directorate and the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate.

Lack of Coordination between Sector Ministries and Agencies Lack of coordination between various major stakeholders has led to denial of responsibilities and duplication of works. This has also derailed our quest to expanding our water delivery coverage and quality.

Water and Sanitation Development and other Boards There have been major incidences of political interference in water management issues especially the dissolution of well established and trained Water Boards, agency boards including

the Water Resources Commission, CWSA Board, change in Managing Directors and CEOs of agencies etc whenever there is a change in government. Long delays in replacing and training such Boards and Directors affect the overall performance of the water delivery services as they affect major decision-making such as release of funds and disbursement, recruitment of staff, award of contracts and collapse of installed systems.

Population estimates Ineffective estimates of population turn to affect management decisions and can distort all statistical data and give a very wrong picture of what is supposed to be the actual situation.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Procurement Act should be reviewed to reflect current circumstances given the need to accelerate water and sanitation delivery to minimize the health risk of the unserved masses. Though the Procurement Act has introduced a great deal of transparency in the system, it must be reviewed to introduce some higher degree of flexibility to properly align it to the development exigencies of current times

Efforts towards harmonization and establishment of a sectorwide M&E framework and routine dissemination of available data within the sector must be accelerated. Data disaggregation should base on common definitions for urban and rural. What happens at the moment is that some communities that are purely urban (according to the GSS definition of urban as a community with 5,000 or more inhabitants) are actually reported under rural or small town by CWSA because they fall under the CWSA operational area as small towns. There is therefore the need to find common definitions for these terminologies for effective monitoring and reporting

References

International Water Association, (2004), The Bonn Charter for Safe Drinking Water, Bonn Government of Ghana- MWRWH (2007). National Water Policy. HENRY W. D. ( 2007). Assessing the Challenges of Water Supply in Urban Ghana: The case of North Teshie. Thesis submitted to Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Stockholm, Sweden Adam N. (2010). Community expectations of Funsi small town water system in the upper-west region of Ghana.
Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (2009). Water and Sanitation Sector Performance Report.