The International Development Agency in collaboration with the Government of Ghana is embarking on a 5 1/2 year Water and Sanitation Project, constructing boreholes and sanitation facilities in six regions.
Two hundred boreholes, eight small town pipe systems and eight limited mechanised water distribution systems are planned to be constructed in the Central Region alone. In addition USD 4,400,000 of equipment for participating districts and USD 4,933,000 of equipment for RCCs are being allocated.
A representative of the regional coordinating council Dorcas Hutchful disclosed this at the launch of the IDA Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project in Cape Coast.
Water is essential to almost every part of human life. However, many sources like ponds or rivers are contaminated with germs and therefore unsafe for human consumption if it is not treated properly. The Ghana Water Company is mainly responsible for the supply of water in Ghana, but many rural areas are not properly enclosed in their activities. The International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank is therefore implementing a project in six regions in Ghana including the Central Region to improve the situation in these rural areas. The objective of this “Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project“ (SRWSP) is the improvement of access to safe water and sanitation facilities. The project has already been implemented at the national and regional level and is now being launched in the Cape Coast Metropolis at the district level. Selected communities and small towns in 13 districts in the Central Region are benefiting from the project, namely Upper Denkyira West, Upper Denkyira East, Awutu Senya, Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira, Assin South, Assin North, Agona East, Efutu, Mfansteman, Gomoa East, Gomoa West and Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly. The communities have to fill in an application form, open a bank account and deposit a minimum of one year‘s costs for the project. The CWSA will then estimate the total costs and considerate the application along pre-selection criteria. The level of poverty, existing water and sanitation facilities and their condition, water related diseases and the number of self-help projects completed in the previous five years are among the criteria.
According to Mr. Gustav Osiakwan, projects like this have adverse social and environmental impacts so that a framework has to be created that allows the communities to readily address these impacts. Wherever District Water and Sanitation Plans exist, the project should be based on these. For every borehole, land is required that needs to be properly acquired with a documented agreement, signed by the respective chief. These places also need to be sighted by professionals to minimise negative environmental impact.
As Paulina Abrafi, the Acting regional Director of CWSA, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, points out, there are many challenges to be met during and after the implementation of the project. Conflicts between local authorities and assembly members for example can lead to a lack of support within a community. Other problems are the delay and non-submission of reports to District Assemblies and insufficient monitoring especially after handing over newly constructed systems to the community. People need to be trained locally to be able to maintain the new infrastructure as sustainability is a key issue of the project.
Many different parties are asked to join their efforts to make the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project a success story. The Water Directorate gives the overall policy but the project is meant to strengthen the District Assemblies in order to ensure the effective execution of their responsibilities. Their roles therefore include the preparation and submission of development plans and budgets, the promotion of information on community water and sanitation, the transfer of funds to participating communities and contractors and the audit, reporting and monitoring of subproject activities. The CWSA is assisting the DA’s with their work on subprojects, and monitors contract performance and qualities. They facilitate prompt payment and promote, coordinate and monitor project activities.
The increase in access to safe water and sanitation facilities is a priority of the government as shown by the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda 2010 - 2013 or the Africa Water Vision of the New Partnership for Africa‘s Development. It is also an effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals that is worth fighting for.
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