The Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has noted that despite a significant proportion of Ghanaians having access to basic water services, less than half of the population benefits from safely managed water sources.
He said data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) show that approximately 88% of Ghana’s population has access to basic water services.
Nonetheless, fewer than half of the population enjoy safely managed water services.
“Only 44% of the population benefits from safely managed water services, defined as an improved water source that is on-premises, available when needed and free from contamination.”
The minister disclosed this at the Government Accountability Series held in Accra on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
According to him, urban water access stands at about 96%, compared to an average of 74% in rural areas.
“Certain regions are experiencing access rates as low as 42%. It is important to note that these figures include communities where service is often intermittent and unreliable,” he added.
He added, “One of the critical challenges facing urban water supply is non-revenue water, which stands at an estimated 50%,” he said.
The situation he lamented is a threat to the efficiency and financial sustainability within the sector.
Aside from that, he said about four million Ghanaians still rely on unimproved, limited, or surface water sources, exposing them to serious health and environmental risks.
He asserted that the challenge was due to ageing infrastructure, low investment in maintenance, poor cost recovery mechanisms, high operational costs, pollution of water bodies, and climate-induced variability.
He was, however, quick to add that the government remains committed to addressing these challenges through targeted investments, sector reforms, and improved collaboration with development partners to expand access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water services across the country.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
