Government elevates sanitation as key performance measure for MMDCEs

The Government of Ghana has introduced major institutional reforms aimed at addressing the country’s longstanding sanitation challenges by restoring responsibility for environmental sanitation to local government authorities and making sanitation performance a key assessment criterion for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

The policy shift will form the focus of the 5th Executive Breakfast Conversation scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, sector agencies, World Vision Ghana and other partners.

As part of the reforms introduced in 2025, the government separated the functions of the former Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources. Responsibility for water resources now falls under the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, while sanitation and environmental sanitation have been reassigned to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.

The restructuring restores the pre-2017 arrangement, placing primary responsibility for sanitation management back in the hands of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), which are considered the institutions closest to local communities.

Organisers of the Executive Breakfast Conversation noted that the reforms come at a time when citizens and stakeholders are demanding stronger accountability and improved sanitation outcomes.

They observed that fragmented oversight and weak enforcement at the local level have contributed to slow progress in achieving a cleaner and healthier environment. By returning sanitation oversight to local government structures, the government is signalling a renewed commitment to implementation, enforcement and community participation.

Sanitation experts have described the decision to make sanitation a key performance indicator for MMDCEs as a significant step towards improving accountability. They believe the measure will provide clear benchmarks for assessing district-level performance and encourage greater prioritisation of sanitation issues.

According to analysts, the policy could lead to increased investment, stronger regulatory enforcement, improved monitoring systems and behavioural change among citizens, all of which are essential for achieving sustainable sanitation improvements.

The Executive Breakfast Conversation will bring together representatives from government, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, research institutions, the private sector and the media to assess Ghana’s environmental sanitation landscape and explore practical solutions.

Discussions will focus on evaluating current sanitation policies and interventions, examining how the new performance indicators will influence service delivery by MMDAs, assessing mechanisms for monitoring sanitation outcomes and reviewing compliance with the requirement that 10 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund be allocated to sanitation activities.

Participants will also identify capacity gaps and challenges facing local authorities and explore strategies for reviving public commitment to sanitation and environmental cleanliness.

Organisers expect the forum to generate practical recommendations, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and build consensus on measures needed to improve sanitation management across the country.

The programme will feature a thematic presentation, a moderated panel discussion involving senior government officials and sector leaders, and an open forum to allow participants to share views and recommendations. The event will conclude with a keynote address and a call for sustained action and collaboration.

Expected participants include officials from the Presidency, Parliament, relevant ministries, MMDAs, development partners, civil society organisations, academic and research institutions, the private sector and the media.

Stakeholders view the dialogue as an important opportunity to move beyond identifying problems and focus on practical, evidence-based solutions that can be implemented at the local level.

Meanwhile, the WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, Mr. Yaw Attah Arhin, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and improve the well-being of children and their families.

He stressed that integrating sanitation performance into the assessment of MMDCEs and other stakeholders could strengthen accountability, attract investment and transform sanitation management into a driver of public health, job creation and economic resilience.

Mr. Attah Arhin noted that evaluating district leaders based on measurable outcomes, including access to safely managed sanitation facilities, reductions in open defecation and improvements in faecal sludge management, would help accelerate local action and improve service delivery.

He further called for coordinated leadership and stronger monitoring mechanisms, urging the government to establish national standards, track district-level performance and publish an annual sanitation scorecard for all MMDAs to promote transparency and accountability.

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