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The present coverage of urban water supply in Ghana is estimated at 61%. To meet
the Millennium Development Goals, water supply coverage for the urban areas will
have to be increased to 88% from the present 61% and sanitation coverage must
be increased to 80%.
The second phase of the Water for African Cities Programme (WAC II) in Accra,
is a follow up to the first phase (WAC I) undertaken from 1999 to 2002. The
first phase of the Water for African Cities Programme in Ghana focused on three
key areas, introducing effective urban water management strategies, protecting
freshwater resources from the impact of urbanization, enhancing regional capacity
for urban water management.
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Location: Accra, Ghana |
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Partner: Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Abbosey Okai Metropolitan Assembly Sub-Metro, Ghana Education Service of the Ministry of Education, Water Resources Commission, Environmental Protection Agency |
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Donor: UN-HABITAT Water and Sanitation Trust Fund |
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The objective of the second phase (WAC II) programme is to support the implementation of integrated water and sanitation interventions in a select low income area of Accra in order to increase access to water and sanitation facilities and services and manage wastes (liquid, excreta, garbage) as a contribution to efforts to achieve the water and sanitation related Millennium Development Goals in the city.
Innovative and tested technologies in the water and sanitation sector will be demonstrated and the experiences gained will be documented for scaling up and replication in other appropriate cities. To ensure sustainability of the interventions, the community members will be fully involved in a participatory manner in the projected activities. Small scale informal water providers will also be organised and an advocacy and awareness creation process launched with stakeholders and water and sanitation related institutions to support pro-poor policy development and implementation process.
The human values based water, sanitation and hygiene education for schools and communities in tandem with the public awareness creation activities are very important components to be implemented as part of the programme. Support will also be provided to complete some of the activities from WAC I, including support to the Densu Basin Board and its Secretariat to manage most urgently the catchment around the Weija reservoir (the source of water supplies to the western part of Accra) to help reduce land degradation and pollution entering the reservoir.
The water and sanitation related institutions that will be involved in the programme will also benefit from the regional activities of WAC II, including: training and capacity building, experience and information sharing, and advocacy at the regional level. In line with the gender mainstreaming strategy initiative for WAC II, all the activities will be conducted with gender perspectives fully taken into account. Partnership with relevant development partners will be established, especially the African Development Bank for follow-up investments.
This is expected to be replicated and or trigger investment in the sector to meet the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) Goals and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Planned Activities
The intervention project formulated consists of seven components. The key areas being to increase access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities and their management on a sustainable basis. This will be achieved with community involvement in the governance of the systems. Capacity to undertake the project will be enhanced by incorporating components which use experiences gained during WAC I. These relate to water demand management, water sanitation and hygiene education, awareness creation and urban catchment management.
The seven components are:
- Pro-poor Water and Sanitation Governance. The objective is to set up a Zabon Zongo Development Committee as a mechanism by which the community will participate and be involved in decisions to improve and manage water supply and sanitation facilities.
- Increasing access to sanitation services. The objective is to provide adequate sanitary facilities and services to the community. The sanitation component will consist of constructing additional latrines, providing additional garbage containers at the dump sites and rehabilitating the sites, constructing drainage channels and involvement of the users in the management of the facilities.
- Increasing access to good drinking water supply. The objective is to provide adequate water supply facilities and services to the community at lifeline tariffs. Access to water supply will be improved by; installing standpipes from which residents can directly fetch water provided by the GWCL, relocating service lines running through filthy drains, compiling information about water supplied and consumed, ensuring that consumers pay for what they consume and involvement of the users in the management of the facilities.
- Water Demand Management. The objective is to establish a mechanism to account for water supplied, used and lost to supply areas.
- Human Values Based Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education. The objective is to inculcate firstly into pupils and community members the value of water in promoting health and productivity in Zabon Zongo; and secondly to complete projects started in WAC I.
- Advocacy and Awareness Creation. The objective is to create public awareness to ensure equity in the provision of services and to make people aware of the linkages between good drinking water, safe disposal of waste and hygienic habits and health.
- Urban Catchment Management. The objective is to support the Densu Board and its Secretariat under the WRC to manage the Catchment, reduce land degradation and pollution of the Weija Reservoir.
City Manager’s contact
Mr. Frederick Lokko
Regional Chief Manager
Ghana Water Company Ltd
P.O. Box M194
Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233 20 8181697
Email: fclokko@hotmail.com
Name and Contact of Focal Officer for Gender / WAC programme
Freda Maame Bartels Mensah
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
Tel: +233 208182285; 233221669644;
Fax: +233 21 688182
Email: mbartmens@yahoo.com
Accra City WAC II Implementation Support Consultant
Nii Boi Ayibotele
c/o Nii Consult
5th Ringway Close, P.O. Box OS 981,
Osu, Accra – Ghana.
Tel: 233-21-761007
Fax: 233-21-761008
Email: ayibotele@ghana.com
UN-HABITAT Programme Manager
Victoria Abankwa
Email: victoria.abankwa@undp.org
UNDP, 7 Ring Road East, Accra. Ghana
Tel: 23321 773 890 6 (ext 188)
