CONIWAS urges government to revive WASH sector working group, fast-track sanitation laws

The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has called on the government to reactivate the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group and accelerate the passage of the Environmental Sanitation Bill and the proposed Water Services Act to strengthen regulation and service delivery in the sector.

The coalition said the absence of effective coordination and a strong regulatory framework continues to undermine efforts to provide sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, particularly in rural, peri-urban and other underserved communities.

The recommendations form part of a communique issued following the 36th MOLE WASH Conference, held at the Aqua Safari Resort in Big Ada, which brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia and other stakeholders to examine challenges confronting the sector.

Presenting the communique at a press conference on Wednesday, November 11, CONIWAS Executive Secretary, Ms Basilia Nanbigne, said the government must prioritise coordination by ensuring that the two ministries responsible for water and sanitation jointly convene the sector working group within the first half of 2027.

"Conference calls on the two ministries to jointly convene the Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group within the first half of 2027, and to hold regular meetings with published outcomes, so that WASH remains a visible national priority," Ms Nanbigne said.

Beyond coordination, the coalition called for improved and predictable financing for water and sanitation services, urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to fully utilise the allocation of at least 20 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for WASH.

On rural water supply, CONIWAS urged the government to develop a comprehensive investment strategy that combines public funding, private sector investment and other innovative financing arrangements to address infrastructure gaps and reduce dependence on grants.

Ms Nanbigne disclosed that only 17.2 per cent of Ghana's rural population had access to safely managed drinking water, stressing the need for increased investment to reach underserved communities.

CONIWAS further noted that the passage of the Environmental Sanitation Bill would help establish a regulatory entity to oversee activities across the sanitation sector, while work on the proposed Water Services Act should be accelerated to address gaps in water service regulation.

Background to the conference
Delivering the opening address at the press conference, CONIWAS Chairperson, Dr Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, said the conference provided a multi-stakeholder platform for reviewing sector performance, influencing policies and identifying barriers to sustainable water and sanitation services.

Held under the theme, "Accelerating climate-resilient WASH service delivery for last-mile communities: options, strategies and actions," the five-day conference was formally opened by the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim.

The conference featured four plenary sessions, 12 side events, 15 paper presentations and 12 exhibitions showcasing solutions to water and sanitation challenges.

Dr Akanyani said the discussions highlighted persistent inequalities in access to basic water and sanitation services, despite Ghana's progress in expanding coverage.

"Reaching last-mile communities with climate-resilient WASH services is a matter of both human rights and national development," she said.

CONIWAS said it would work with relevant ministries, agencies, parliamentary committees and development partners to advance the recommendations between December 2026 and October 2027, ahead of the next MOLE WASH Conference.