WaterAid marks 40 years of WASH impact

– calls for accelerated action to reach every citizen

By Ernest Bako WUBONTO

WaterAid Ghana has commemorated its 40th anniversary, reflecting on four decades of work in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector while charting a bold path to address persistent gaps.

The celebration in Accra brought together government officials, development partners, traditional rulers and community leaders, who commended the organisation’s achievements and discussed sustainable solutions for the future.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, lauded WaterAid’s leadership and its immeasurable contribution to water accessibility in rural communities.

“Leaders emerge to solve problems, and WaterAid has been a leader in the WASH sector, going where others have not,” he said. “When people in remote areas speak about the challenges of water and sanitation, you begin to appreciate the scale of the problem. Their struggles go far beyond what one can simply observe or describe.”

Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, noted that since its establishment in 1985, the NGO has delivered equitable and sustainable WASH services to millions of Ghanaians. She said the organisation has directly reached over 1.3 million people with clean water, 529,000 with decent toilets, and 1.1 million with hygiene education.

Despite this progress, she highlighted the stark inequities that remain. “Almost three-quarters of the population lack a decent toilet, and more than half lack the means to wash their hands at home. Our 40th anniversary is a story of resilience, but also a call to action. In the next 40 years, we aim for transformation and acceleration”.

Madam Yanyi-Akofur stressed the need to reframe the government’s role, foster locally led collaboration, and empower communities to manage projects for long-term sustainability.

Executive Director of International Programmes at WaterAid UK, Amaka Godfrey, pointed out that Ghana was among the NGO’s first destinations in West Africa, and is now one of 32 operational countries worldwide. She cited research showing that only 40 percent of WASH facilities in Ghana remain functional after five years, underscoring the need to rethink sustainability.

“As WaterAid marks its 40th anniversary, we are leading a crucial discussion on how to build water supply systems that endure,” she said.

Regional Director for WaterAid West Africa, Abdul Nashiru Mohammed, outlined a three-point plan for the future: “First, we must think big on scalability. Second, we must confront the reality that so many are still left behind — every child deserves a safe start. Third, we must act fast. With only five years to the end of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 target, we cannot move slowly. The potential for Ghana is huge.”

Guided by its 2023–2028 country strategy, WaterAid Ghana is now focused on achieving universal WASH access in the Bongo District as a national model, integrating WASH into healthcare systems, and delivering climate-resilient services.

“Together with our partners, we are committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian, everywhere, can enjoy their fundamental human rights to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene,” Miss Yanyi-Akofur concluded.

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