WATER MANAGEMENT

CENSUS FINDS SACHET WATER IS MAIN SOURCE OF DRINKING

WATER IN GHANA:

“Sachet water is a popular and affordable preferred drinking water in the country, surpassing pipe-bourne water, according to figures from the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC). According to this report,the use of sachet water increased from 9 percent in 2010 to 37.4 percent in 2021, while pipe-bourne water decreased from 46.5 percent to 31.7 percent over the same period. The government statistician, said borehole or tubewell water accounted for 17.7 percent in 2021 down from the 2010 census figure of 23.2 percent. In urban areas, the two main sources are sachet water, recording 51.5 per cent and pipe-borne water with 33.6 per cent, while in the rural areas, borehole or tube well with 33.6 per cent and pipe-borne water recording 28.8 per cent. In the report, the Government Statistician revealed that nine in 10 households, representing 92.0 per cent had access to improved sources of drinking water, with the proportion higher for urban (97.8 per cent) than rural (83.0 per cent) households. The report shows that at least 90 per cent of households in nine regions have access to improved sources of drinking water, out of which Greater Accra recorded (98.3 per cent), Bono (97.5 per cent) and Upper West (97.3 per cent) have the highest. Oti recorded (77.1 per cent), Northeast (74.8 per cent) and Savannah (70.5 per cent), the lowest. Touching on toilet facility, the report shows that in all 16 regions, open defecation was prevalent, with five regions recording more than 50 per cent. For households without toilet facilities, 90 per cent or more of households’ point of defecation is bush, open field or gutter in all regions, except in three - Central, Western and Greater Accra - where 10 per cent or more use the beach or the water bodies. The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources said the United States committed $45.5 million over the next five years to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in the country during the launch of a water project in Tamale. The project will focus on six regions in northern Ghana: Upper East, Upper West, North-East, Northern, Savannah, and Oti Regions. The project, she said, would enhance governance and planning for WASH projects, strengthen sustainable financing, improve private sector engagement, and accelerate the adoption of healthy hygiene practices. She stated that the Government’s vision was to have water for all to meet the Sustainable Development Goal Six, that “seeks to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all, focusing on the sustainable management of water resources, wastewater and ecosystems, and acknowledging the importance of an enabling environment. The provisional figures from the 2021 PHC indicate that there are 30.8 million people in Ghana, compared to 24.7 million people recorded in the 2010 Census. The 2021 PHC counted and collected detailed information on all persons that spent the Census Night, that is Sunday 27th June 2021 in Ghana, and ended the exercise on August 15, 2021. The Census will provide important information to support the evidence- based implementation of the national development agenda and support the tracking of achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.”

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Source: Ghana Business News – February 2022

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