Blog

Month: April 2025

Driving Access and Equity in Water: Insights from the National Learning Alliance Platform

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On April 24, 2025, Saha, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Resource Centre Network convened senior policymakers, funders, implementers, and community representatives at the Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra for the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP). The session—Driving Access and Equity in Water: Enabling Environment for Last-Mile Communities in Ghana—focused on forging sustainable, inclusive strategies to serve Ghana’s hardest-to-reach populations.

Context & Purpose
Safe drinking water is a recognized human right and essential to public health. Yet, according to the 2022 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, over two million rural Ghanaians still lack reliable access. Urban and peri-urban improvements have outpaced rural gains due to low population density and high delivery costs. This NLLAP gathering aimed to identify innovative financing and policy measures to bridge the last-mile gap and ensure equitable water access for all communities.

Workshop Overview
Following opening remarks, the Water Directorate led an interactive workshop exploring practical funding and delivery mechanisms:

  • Last-Mile Water Fund: Pooling surplus financial-sector liquidity into a dedicated fund for remote water infrastructure.
  • Cross-Subsidization: Redirecting Community Water and Sanitation Agency revenues to support rural service delivery, backed by enabling legislation.
  • Sector-Wide Water Tax: Levying manufacturers and corporations that are heavy water users to finance last-mile initiatives.
  • Municipal Bonds: Structuring local bond issuances to underwrite rural water projects.
  • Performance-Based Allocations: Incentivizing District Assemblies via assessment tools to allocate common and MP constituency funds to underserved areas.
  • Service-Area Delineation: Defining clear operational zones to facilitate cost-recovery and subsidy models.
  • Livelihood Integration: Embedding income-generation activities to improve community ability to pay for incremental water tariffs.
  • Supplier Partnerships: Encouraging manufacturers of water system inputs to offer subsidized inputs, potentially via tax incentives.

Key Takeaways

  • Subsidies Are Essential: Participants agreed that targeted financial support is critical to last-mile viability.
    Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Effective financing mechanisms depend on supportive policies and structures currently under reform.
  • Continued Stakeholder Dialogue: While consensus exists on principles, detailed plans and systems must be developed to operationalize these ideas.

 Next Steps & Expectations

As a next step, the World Bank’s WASH Acceleration Project staff will engage with Saha Global to align on National Water Policy implementation while Saha continues to build a coalition around professional last-mile water service delivery. Advancing policy, data, and finance integration will require sustained, multi-year collaboration across stakeholders and we are excited by the momentum.

Theo Boateng, Director of Operations, Expansion and Partnerships, showcased Saha’s proven last-mile delivery methodology. Drawing on extensive field experience, he underscored how meticulous planning, community engagement, and financial innovation can deliver reliable, professionally managed water services to remote communities.

As Ghana strives to close its rural water gap, the insights and partnerships forged at NLLAP will guide national reforms, bringing us closer to the goal of safe, dependable water access for every community—no matter how remote.

 

Kofi Duku, Director of Water Quality and Service Delivery and other participants
Theo Boateng, Director of Operations, Expansion and Partnerships
A section of participants at the workshop
Blessing Gbandan Francis (white cap), Stakeholder and Government Relations Manager and other participants
Team Saha (L-R) Kofi, Lucy, Blessing and Theo

 

Listening, Learning, and Improving: Saha’s Zonal Tour to Strengthen Water Safety Planning

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At Saha Global, we believe that safe water begins with strong planning. That’s why, in March, our team embarked on a zonal tour across the Oti, Volta, Northern, and Savannah regions to collect valuable insights aimed at enhancing our Water Safety Plan (WSP).

Some Members of the Service Delivery team and Operators in the Koni Electoral Area of the Zabzugu district

The goal of the trip was simple but significant: engage with local government partners to identify the unique water safety risks in each zone and explore opportunities for collaboration. We visited Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorates in Central Gonja, Krachi East and West, East Gonja, Nanumba North, Yendi, and Zabzugu. These conversations were rich with suggestions and underscored the power of partnerships in delivering safe, reliable water to rural communities.

In some regions, like Volta and Oti, sanitation systems are relatively strong. However, in parts of the Savannah Region—particularly communities along the Volta River—open defecation and littering remain major concerns. “This can contribute to contamination of the water,” observed our Director of Water Quality and Service Delivery, Kofi Duku. He also raised concerns about farming near water sources, further emphasizing the need for site-specific strategies.

We were encouraged by the warm welcome and enthusiasm of our government partners. Mr. Yahaya Mohammed, Environmental Health and Sanitation Director at Yendi Municipal Assembly, expressed full support: “We commend Saha Global for their work and are eager to offer our expertise in updating the Water Safety Plan.”

Mr. Yahaya Mohamed, seated, and some members of the Service Delivery team

This effort reflects Saha Global’s long-standing commitment to delivering clean water through professionally managed systems. Though we already work under a robust Water Safety Plan, we recognize that local insights and collaboration are essential to continuous improvement.

Our team left the field with deeper knowledge, stronger partnerships, and fresh determination. Together with community leaders, environmental officers, and our dedicated team, we’re working to ensure that every glass of water in rural Ghana is as safe as it is essential.

Saha Global at the 2025 Skoll World Forum: Advancing Professionalized WASH Services

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The 2025 Skoll World Forum in Oxford convened global changemakers committed to solving the world’s most pressing challenges through innovation and collaboration. Among them were Saha Global’s Executive Director 

Kate and Eric heading home after the 2025 Skoll World Forumand Co-Founder, Kate Cincotta, and Development Associate, Eric Awini, who represented our organization in discussions centered around the professionalization of rural water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

A key highlight of the forum was the collaborative spirit among WASH sector professionals. Engaging dialogues emphasized a shared commitment to improving rural WASH services, with participants openly exchanging lessons learned—both successes and setbacks. This culture of transparency fostered an invaluable environment of mutual learning and sector-wide growth.

Reflecting on the forum, Kate shared her optimism about the alignment across the sector and the momentum that continues to build through these global exchanges. “It’s encouraging to see so many organizations coming together with a unified vision for more sustainable, professionalized WASH systems,” she noted.

The event also celebrated the achievements of dedicated peers such as Gayatri Datar and Lonnie Hackett (both Mulago Fellows at the same time as Kate!),  whose impactful contributions at Earth Enable and Healthy Learners were recognized. These acknowledgments reaffirm the importance of collective efforts in driving lasting social change.

As we reflect on the insights and connections gained at the forum, Saha Global remains steadfast in our commitment to delivering professionalized WASH services in rural Ghana. The energy, inspiration, and collaboration experienced at the Skoll World Forum fuel our ongoing mission: to provide sustainable and reliable clean water access to the communities we serve.

Expanding Water Access: Saha Global Launches Dugout Expansion Project in Yakura

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Access to clean and reliable water is a fundamental necessity, yet many communities in northern Ghana continue to struggle with seasonal water shortages. In response to this challenge, Saha Global has launched a dugout expansion project in Yakura, a community in the North-East Gonja District of the Savannah Region. This initiative, funded by the Shockwave Foundation, aims to provide sustainable water access for residents who face severe water scarcity, particularly during the dry season.

A Community in Need

For years, Yakura and surrounding communities, including Fushila and Jantongwulanyili, have relied on a single dugout for their water supply. However, this source often dries up between January and June, forcing residents—especially women and children—to walk long distances to neighbouring communities such as Datoyili to fetch water. This time-consuming and physically demanding task not only affects daily household activities but also limits opportunities for education and economic engagement.

Recognizing the urgent need for a sustainable solution, Saha Global has partnered with key stakeholders, including Bonsah Construction Works, to rehabilitate and expand the existing dugout. The project was officially launched with a sod-cutting ceremony attended by the Savannah Regional Minister, local government officials, traditional leaders, and community members.

In communities where groundwater is not accessible, such as Yakura, Saha Global is equipping local women with the skills to treat surface water using its Simple Surface Water Treatment System. This innovative approach ensures that as long as the community’s dugout retains water throughout the year, residents can access a reliable source of safe drinking water.

By training women to operate and manage these water treatment centers, Saha Global is not only improving public health but also fostering local leadership in water resource management. This initiative is part of Saha’s ongoing mission to provide sustainable clean water solutions to hard-to-reach communities in northern Ghana.

Government Support and Collaboration
During the event, Savannah Regional Minister Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe underscored the importance of the project, emphasizing that expanding the dugout would help ensure a consistent water supply for Yakura and neighbouring villages.
“We are aware that the current dugout does not have the capacity to sustain the community throughout the dry season. This expansion will not only increase its depth and width but also reinforce the embankments to improve access during the rainy season,” he stated.

While the initiative is spearheaded by Saha Global, Minister Be-Awuribe assured that it has full support from local authorities. North-East Gonja District Coordinating Director (DCD) Issah Imoro further highlighted the logistical challenges of providing pipe-borne water to widely dispersed rural communities. “Ensuring access to clean water remains a government priority, but due to the distances between communities, boreholes and dugouts remain the most viable water solutions in this region,” he explained. He welcomed the involvement of organizations like Saha Global in bridging the gap in water provision.

A Sustainable Approach to Water Access

The project not only addresses immediate water shortages but also lays the groundwork for long-term water security. Expanding the dugout will increase its storage capacity, ensuring that residents have access to water throughout the year. By working closely with community members, local authorities, and engineers, Saha Global aims to implement a solution that is both effective and sustainable.

According to Francis Blessing Gbandan, a key advocate for the project, the expansion will significantly improve the quality of life in Yakura. “This initiative will reduce the time and effort spent searching for water and enhance the community’s resilience against seasonal droughts,” he noted. “It’s about creating lasting change.”

Looking Ahead
As Saha Global continues to work toward sustainable water solutions in northern Ghana, the Yakura dugout expansion serves as a model for future interventions. The organization remains committed to providing clean water to communities in need and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful change.

The success of this project will not only transform the lives of Yakura residents but also set a precedent for other communities facing similar water challenges. Through collaboration and innovation, Saha Global is making a tangible impact, one community at a time.
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