The World Bank has approved $30 million from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP). This second round of additional financing will assist the Government of Ghana in addressing a financial shortfall caused by rising costs due to inflation.
Recently, the Government of Ghana and Ghana Water Limited (GWL) have focused on expanding and improving urban water supply networks and enhancing operational efficiency. However, GWL continues to struggle with high levels of non-revenue water, which, despite reductions, remains at 45% as of 2023. This ongoing issue significantly impacts the utility’s efficiency and financial health.
Robert Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, stated, “This additional financing will support the completion of interventions aimed at managing non-revenue water and improving GWL’s operational efficiency in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Areas. It will also enable the rehabilitation and expansion of the Asafo Sewerage Network and extend sewerage services to 5,000 households in low-income communities, enhancing sanitation.”
Access to basic sanitation services in Ghana is still limited despite government efforts to close the sanitation gap and reduce open defecation. The project is being implemented with local governments and community involvement, leveraging local capacity for execution. The GAMA SWP has already delivered benefits, particularly for women, by easing the burden of water collection and reducing the additional responsibilities related to family health and hygiene during disease outbreaks.
Harold Esseku, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist and Task Team Leader, highlighted, “The completion of the gravity-operated network and sewerage treatment plant is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate mitigation. Replacing old vacuum trucks with more efficient alternatives will help reduce CO2 emissions. Additionally, the project promotes a circular economy by turning waste into valuable products like briquettes and compost, which can replace charcoal and biofuel in local communities and improve soil quality for urban agriculture.”
