Republic of Ghana Ministry of Local Government and Rural ...

Republic of Ghana
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR HOUSEHOLD
WATER TREATMENT AND SAFE STORAGE

IN GHANA

May, 2014

FOREWORD

This Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage Strategy has been prepared by the Government of
Ghana and sets our commitment and framework for achieving the vision “Health for all by 2025”.
The strategy sets in motion the framework and implementation guidelines for ensuring the safety of
water at the point of use or consumption. It has been developed against the backdrop of the low
practice of household water treatment, currently practiced by 9% of the total population1.

The strategy further illustrates Ghana Government‘s commitment to putting into action, the policy
objectives and implementation strategies of the National Water Policy and the Ghana Shared Growth
and Development Agenda (GSGDA) (2010-2013) as well as its commitments for achieving the broad
goals of the Africa Water Vision 2025 and Millennium Development Goals.

The strategy together with an accompanying implementation model and country action plan is
anchored around seven (7) thematic areas. The strategy emphasises a strong consumer engagement,
an effective public private partnerships and a market based/commercial approach as key ingredients
for successfully developing and scaling up the practice of household water treatment and safe
storage.

The development of this strategy document has been informed by the outcome of a country-wide
assessment on HWTS commissioned by UNICEF in 2010, which evaluated approaches by different
organisations for HWTS and identified best practices for scaling up. This document also benefitted
from extensive consultations with different stakeholders working in the WASH sector. A National
Technical Working Group (NTWG) on Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage was constituted
to work in tandem with a Consultant to develop a draft strategy. The draft strategy was reviewed and
validated at several platforms including the National Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP).

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to members of the National Technical Working Group and
all those who worked tirelessly and supported the process culminating in the preparation of this very
important strategy for our sector.

………………………………. ………………………………………

Hon. Akwasi Oppong Fosu Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda

Minister, Local Government and Rural Minister, Water Resources, Works and
Development Housing

1 Ghana Statistical Service (2012) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD............................................................................................................................................................ I
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................II
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS.......................................................................................... III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................................. IV
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................................................................................1
1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................3
2 STATE OF HWTS IN GHANA ...................................................................................................................4
3 GOAL AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.......................................................................................................5

3.1 GOAL................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES .................................................................................................................... 5
3.3 STRATEGIC ACTIONS ..................................................................................................................... 5

3.3.1 POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT................................................................... 5
3.3.2 TECHNOLOGY............................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.3 CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT ...................................................................................................... 7
3.3.4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE............................................................................................................ 7
3.3.5 RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 7
3.3.6 FINANCING AND PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................................... 8
3.3.7 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .......................................................................................... 8
4 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS................................................................................................ 9
4.1 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.................................................................................................... 9
4.2 TIMEFRAME FOR IMPLEMENTING STRATEGY ..................................................................... 11
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................................ 12

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

BCC - Behavioural Change Communication
CLTS - Community Led Total Sanitation
CONIWAS - Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation
CSIR - Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
CWSA - Community Water and Sanitation Agency
EHSD - Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate
FDA - Food and Drugs Authority
GoG - Government of Ghana
GSA - Ghana Standards Authority
GES - Ghana Education Service
GHS - Ghana Health Service
GWCL - Ghana Water Company Limited
HWTS - Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage
HWWS - Hand Washing with Soap
IEC - Information, Education and Communication
JMP - Joint Monitoring Programme
MDAs - Ministries, Departments and Agencies
MDG - Millennium Development Goal
MICS - Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
MLGRD - Ministry of local Government and Rural Development
MoH - Ministry of Health
MWRWH - Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing
NADMO - National Disaster Management Organisation
NESCON - National Environmental Sanitation Conference
NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations
NLLAP - National Level Learning Alliance Platform
PPP - Public-Private Partnership
RCN - Resource Centre Network
SHEP - School Health Education Programme
UNICEF - United Nations Children‘s Fund
WASH - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
WD - Water Directorate
WHO - World Health Organization
WRI - Water Research Institute

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Ghana Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is
grateful to all organizations and individuals who contributed in diverse ways to the preparation of
this strategy document.

The ministry is grateful to the United Nations Children‘s Fund (UNICEF) for funding the project. We
acknowledge the Consultants, Marion Kyomuhendo - for providing the original assessment and
initial drafts of the Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) Strategy; and Stephen
Ntow - for the technical inputs during the validation workshop and final revision of the HWTS
Strategy.

The HWTS Technical Working Group members who guided the process of developing this strategy
included Patricia Buah of the Water Directorate (WD) of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and
Housing (MWRWH) and Kweku Quansah of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate
(EHSD) of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) who co-chaired the
Technical Working Group; Ebenezer Aidoo and Odartei Lamptey of Precision DX, Araba Sam Annan
of Vestagaard Frandsen, Joyce Maku Appiah and Theodora Adomako-Adjei of the Community Water
and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Vida Nyenku of EHSD/MLGRD, Basilia Nanbigne and Ben Arthur
of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), Adam
Thomas and Samuel Amoako-Mensah of UNICEF Ghana.

We are also grateful to Mr. David Duncan, Chief of WASH, UNICEF Ghana and Naa Lenason
Demedeme, Ag. Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) of the Ministry of
Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) for their administrative and technical support.

We are also grateful to the International Network on Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage
(INHWTS) for guidance and direction, especially to the co-hosts Mr. Michael Akyeamfo Forson
(WASH Specialist, UNICEF HQ, USA) and Dr. Margaret Montgomery (Technical Officer, WHO,
Geneva), and Ryan Rowe (Communication Specialist of the Network) for their advice and providing
the required ‗international‘ touch to this document, and the WASH Section of UNICEF HQ and WHO
HQ for the technical and administrative support.

The final version of the national Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) Strategy
documents were put together by Harold Esseku and Joseph Ampadu-Boakye of Rapha Development
Consult. We are grateful to them for collating and putting together all the comments and suggestions
made by various stakeholders to come up with the three documents comprising the Household Water
Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) Strategy for Ghana together with a Scale-Up Model and a Private
Sector Participation Framework.

The three documents are namely:

 National Strategy for Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS)
 National Strategy for HWTS - Scale-Up Model
 National Strategy for HWTS - Private Sector Participation Framework.

This document is the National Strategy for Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The need to improve access to safe drinking water cannot be over emphasized. It also cannot be
limited to the agencies responsible for proving safe drinking water alone. Experience and the
outcomes of several studies have demonstrated the need for households to take up a role and be part
of a value chain. The treatment and safe storage of drinking-water at the household level (Household
Water Treatment and Safe Storage - HWTS) has been proven to significantly reduce the burden of
diarrhoeal disease in users and increase child survival2.

Notwithstanding the critical role of HWTS, there has not been much efforts to adequately coordinate
the implementation of HWTS programmes and activities at scale. A number of organisations have
developed and implemented initiatives to promote HWTS, albeit on limited scale, and under discreet
projects. There is no recognizable framework and guidelines for implementing HWTS activities.

To address this gap, the Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) of the Ministry of
Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) constituted the National Technical Working
Group (NTWG) on HWTS, comprising of key sector ministries, Development Partners (DPs), NGOs,
private sector and other stakeholders to lead a coordinated effort to create the required enabling
environment for HWTS in Ghana. NTWG on HWTS with the support from UNICEF, have developed
this strategy to streamline HWTS programmes in the country, and to facilitate scaled up
implementation and integration into other programmes.

Within the framework of this strategy, HWTS refers to the transportation, storage and use of drinking
water treated at various locations including homes, schools, health care facilities and other
community locations. The strategy focuses on ensuring that drinking water is safe at the point of
consumption, irrespective of the geographical location. This may also include water that is treated by
small-scale vendors before selling to households 3 The strategy therefore seeks to promote key
behaviours and practices, which addresses challenges associated with water quality at the ―point of
use‖ or consumption.

The process for developing the strategy was initiated by MLGRD. A National Technical Working
Group (NTWG) on Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage was formed to work with the
Consultants to develop a draft strategy. A series of consultative meetings were held with HWTS
promoters, users, service providers and key government Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) to gather and collate information on peoples‘ experiences on HWTS in the country and
elsewhere. It was also to identify which organisations are implementing HWTS activities in the field,
their successes and challenges. A strategy development workshop was also organized by MLGRD
based on the information collated. Varied sector stakeholders including NGOs, public sector and
private sector agencies involved in various aspects of HWTS deliberated and contributed to the
development of this strategy.

This document is meant to serve as a guide for all sector players. Its contents are expected to be
reviewed at regular intervals to make it relevant to stakeholders at all times and reflect the realities of
those whose lives are to be affected positively. The document is to be interpreted in accordance with
the Environmental Sanitation Policy, National Water Policy, National Health Policy and provisions of
other relevant policies and legislative instruments to ensure safe consumption and general use of
water at the point of use.

2 Fewtrell et al., 2005; Clasen et al., 2007; Waddington et al., 2009 and Curtis and Cairncross, 2003.
3 International Network on Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (2011) Strategy and Funding Proposal. Revised
March 2011. Prepared by UNICEF and WHO.

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The strategy provides a background prior to the development of this framework, the benefits of
adopting a national approach and key principles to be adopted. It identifies key institutions,
collaborating MDAs, and the strategic roles of these institutions, as well as, private sector and NGO
actors in HWTS programming in Ghana. It also provides some suggested collaborative and
institutional arrangements.
A range of medium to strategic actions have also been identified to ensure that all people in Ghana,
especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged segments, use safe drinking water at the point of use by
the year 2025. This is in line with the Water Sub-Sector Strategic Development Plan (WSSDP), which
is aimed at achieving basic sanitation and safe water access for all by the year 2025.

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1 INTRODUCTION

Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) significantly reduces the burden of diarrhoeal
and other related diseases which impacts positively on the health status of people especially children.
The Government of Ghana recognises this opportunity and has developed this National Strategy on
Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) to define the framework and modalities for
ensuring that drinking water is safe at the point of use across all settings – homes, schools, public
places and other locations – and for all people including the poor and vulnerable.
This strategy document has been developed within the framework of the National Water Policy,
Environmental Sanitation Policy and the National Health Policy and the Water Sector Strategic
Development Plan. It also dovetails into the overall objectives of the National Medium Term
Development Plan, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), New Partnership for Africa‘s
Development (NEPAD) and the Africa Water Vision 2025.
It is aimed at bridging the gap in existing policy documents and defines clearly, the approach and
strategy for ensuring that drinking water is safe at the point of consumption. It is also intended to
complement existing government policies, strategies and plans towards achieving the goal of
sanitation and water for all by 2025.
This strategy is structured into 3 sections. Section 1 includes a brief background and a review of the
state of HWTS in Ghana. The goal, guiding principles and strategies/action items are presented in
Section 2 while Section 3 defines the implementation framework including roles and responsibilities
and timelines.

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2 STATE OF HWTS IN GHANA

Ghana has made significant progress in extending access to improved drinking water source with an
estimated 92% of urban population and 80% of rural dwellers having access by 2011 4 .
Notwithstanding this achievement, a substantial number of people remain with access to safe
drinking water. It is estimated that 3.3million people in Ghana are without access to safe drinking
water – with about 2.2million people, especially in rural areas relying directly on water from rivers,
irrigation canals and dug-outs as drinking water (MICS 2011).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the water from these traditional sources used in the rural areas do
not meet national drinking water quality standards. In areas where there is access to safe water,
treatment and safe storage are important given the potential for recontamination, mainly through
transportation from source, especially public standpipes and handpumps, and handling at the
household level.

Beyond the general limited access to safe water, there are income and geographical disparities in
access in Ghana. It is estimated that 56% poor households in Ghana have access to safe water as
compared to 92% of the rich. While 44% of households have access to an improved drinking water
source in less than 30 minutes; 36% of poor households have access within 30 minutes as compared to
97% for the rich.

Against this backdrop is the fact that the majority of households in Ghana do not treat water before
consumption. It is estimated that 91% of household members do not treat their water before drinking
perhaps they see it as coming from an improved source5. Only 17% of households that fetch drinking
water from unimproved sources treat their water before drinking. Across the regions in Ghana,
appropriate treatment of drinking water (at the household level) ranged from about 2% (Upper West
Region) to 18% (Northern Region). The low rate of practice of HWTS also appears not to be related to
wealth status or settlement characteristics. About 15% of households in the lowest wealth quintile
treat their water at household level, as against about 9% of households in the highest quintile, while
about 9% of urban households treat their water, as against 10% of households in rural communities6.

Unsafe drinking water, along with poor sanitation and hygiene, imposes a heavy burden of disease in
Ghana. Contaminated drinking water contributes to an estimated 10,000 deaths annually from
diarrhoea diseases and is the fourth leading cause of child deaths in Ghana7.

To address the low rate of practice of treating drinking water, a number of stakeholders especially
NGOs have supported the introduction of appropriate household drinking water treatment
technologies including ceramic filters, bio-sand filters and chlorine purification tablets. However,
these options present challenges in terms of affordability, performance, portability, affordability and
maintenance. There is also the need to improve the storage of household water in Ghana8.

Government of Ghana proposes to scale up HWTS in Ghana by implementing a sustainable approach
to accelerate the practice of water treatment and safe storage to ensure that drinking water is safe at
the point of use.

4 WHO& UNICEF (2013), Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water. 2013 Update.
5 Ghana Statistical Service (2012) Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011. December 2012.

6 ibid
7 http://www.apromiserenewed.org/Dashboard.html
8 Kyomuhendo, 2010

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3 GOAL AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

3.1 GOAL

The goal of this strategy is to contribute to achieving improved health for all by 2025. This goal will be
achieved by pursuing sustainable and effective promotion and adoption of HWTS as a behaviour and
through the use of appropriate technologies that make drinking water safe at the point of use.

3.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The National HWTS strategy will be governed by the following principles:

Implementation of this strategy is underpinned by the following guiding principles which are
embedded in existing policy documents including the National Water Policy, National Health Policy
and the Environmental Sanitation Policy:

 The principle of adopting an integrated approach, recognizing HWTS as part of an integrated
approach to primary health care;

 The principle of guaranteeing the fundamental rights of all people without discrimination to
safe and adequate water to meet their basic human needs;

 The principle of achieving equity and gender sensitivity in planning and implementing
HWTS;

 The principle of subsidiarity in order to ensure participatory decision making in planning
and implementing HWTS at the lowest appropriate level in society;

 The principle of partnerships leveraging both private and public sector resources for planning
and implementing HWTS;

 The principle of the greatest common good to society in developing appropriate technology
and strategies in- promoting HWTS

3.3 STRATEGIC ACTIONS

In line with the aforementioned overall goals and guiding principles, the Government of Ghana,
working actively with support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders in the WASH sector will
pursue the following strategic actions under the under listed seven (7) broad thematic areas:

 Policy and Institutional Development
 Technology
 Consumer Engagement
 Emergency Response
 Research and Knowledge Management
 Financing and Partnerships; and
 Monitoring and Evaluation

3.3.1 POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Position HWTS as a policy priority

 HWTS will be mainstreamed within the scope of relevant policy documents - the National
Water Policy, Environmental Sanitation Policy, National Health Policy and National HIV and
AIDS Policy. Beyond the inclusion in relevant policy documents, government will make the
necessary financial commitments towards implementing relevant sections of the afore
mentioned policies that relates to HWTS;

 Government reaffirms its priority for accelerating HWTS especially for populations that do
not currently practice effective HWTS and are most vulnerable to emergencies and
waterborne disease including children, persons living with HIV and AIDS, women and the
physically challenged;

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Create an enabling environment for HWTS

 Government will develop national standards for safe water supply at the point of use and for
assessment of HWTS products. These will include, but not be limited to, benchmarks on
HWTS and with reference to best practice guidelines issued by Metropolitan, Municipal and
District Authorities and regulatory bodies including Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Food
and Drugs Authority (FDA) among others;

 Create a certification and product labeling system so that consumers can make informed
decisions and choices in acquiring new HWTS products;

 Explore the potential for reducing prohibitive tariffs, taxes (tax approach should be holistic)
and other costs on imported HWTS products in order to facilitate the entry of appropriate
technologies not currently present in Ghana to ensure affordability by the target population
especially the poor.

Improve coordination of efforts to promote HWTS

 The Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate (EHSD) of the Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) shall provide leadership and coordinate all
activities of the HWTS programme;

 Carry out mapping of all HWTS stakeholders and establish a coordinating committee with
representatives from all stakeholders including ministries, development partners, private
sector and NGOs to coordinate and harmonize HWTS activities;

 Coordinate HWTS activities with other water, hygiene and sanitation strategies and
initiatives, and encourage pursuit of synergistic opportunities with other interventions such
as hand washing with soap, HIV and AIDS, nutrition, maternal health and school-based
WASH.

 Develop, field test and standardize ―implementation guidelines‖ for organisations that want
to take up HWTS in communities.

Build institutional capacity to support HWTS

 Identify and strengthen relevant institutions to promote HWTS and to provide effective
technical assistance to regions and districts to optimize HWTS choices, performance and
coverage;

 Provide comprehensive professional training in HWTS technologies, selection criteria and
strategies for optimizing uptake and use;

3.3.2 TECHNOLOGY

Promote the development, testing and introduction of new HWTS technologies and delivery
strategies in Ghana

 Government of Ghana will work in partnership with academia and the private sector to
identify technology gaps e.g., low-cost filtration, coagulation, flocculation prior to boiling or
other disinfection to improve water quality or satisfy requirement for non-drinking water
needs, effective and affordable safe water improvements;

 Support development of HWTS solutions that are simple, acceptable, affordable, appropriate
for low-income and remote populations, and for products that are manufactured in Ghana;

 Collaborate with relevant agencies including Water Research Institute, NGOs and the private
sector to develop and test new technologies and delivery models in demonstration projects
and in piloting them for scaling up;

 Catalyze creative supply channels and distribution systems to ensure that effective HWTS
reach the most vulnerable (and often remote) populations including pregnant women,
children, aged, physically challenged and persons living with HIV and AIDS;

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3.3.3 CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT

Stimulate the need and create demand for HWTS

 Develop and implement a long-term campaign to increase awareness of risk of waterborne
diseases, and the potential for HWTS as a simple, accessible, effective and affordable solution;

 Identify populations in which HWTS practices are poor and conduct Knowledge Attitudes,
Practices and Behaviours (KAPB) studies and other studies that will determine the barriers to
adoption; determine the technology, delivery, information, education and communication
(IEC) and behavior change communication strategies that will be most effective in reaching
these populations with effective HWTS solutions;

 Increase the profile of HWTS as a cost-effective intervention among public leaders, health
professionals, and other change agents; use schools, religious and traditional leaders,
hospitals, clinics, women‘s union and other institutions and groups to promote awareness of
HWTS.

Use BCC strategies to create awareness and demand for effective HWTS

 Develop and disseminate high-quality communication materials including print and
electronic material to promote the benefits and advantages of HWTS solutions and to address
challenges associated with HWTS technology options. The contents of HWTS communication
should provide users with necessary information to make informed choices. All materials
should be specific, accurate and reliable;

 Explore opportunities to integrate IEC materials on HWTS with other health and sanitation
communication efforts to avoid potential confusion caused by multiple messages.

 Develop and implement successful e-campaigns on HWTS and how it relates to health, water,
hygiene and sanitation;

 Encourage the private sector to develop and use accurate and effective IEC materials as part
of their marketing campaigns and accompanying products;

 Take steps to coordinate HWTS with other IEC materials to take advantage of synergies and
avoid potential confusion caused by multiple messages.

3.3.4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Take steps to improve the use of HWTS in emergency response

 NADMO shall evaluate alternative HWTS products in response to floods, other disasters and
disease outbreaks, and compare options on the basis of performance, cost, ease of delivery,
and acceptability;

 NADMO, working in partnership with MLGRD, shall identify and take advantage of
opportunities for HWTS promotion that occur during transition from emergency users of
HWTS products to routine long-term use in the home.

3.3.5 RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Undertake relevant, practical and rigorous research to improve the targeting, performance, delivery
and adoption of HWTS

 Work in partnership with academia and the private sector to compile existing research, distil
lessons learned, identify research gaps, and develop a comprehensive research agenda that
will yield results that can be translated into action to improve HWTS performance, adoption
and long-term use and making policy recommendations;

 Encourage collaborations between national and international research institutions in health,
engineering, economics, social sciences and other fields to take full advantage of research

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already undertaken in support of HWTS and address the special conditions prevailing in
Ghana;
 Promote transparency and accountability in the implementation of HWTS projects and
programs by encouraging regular, rigorous and independent assessments of technology
performance, adoption and sustained use—especially by the most vulnerable populations—
and achievement of health benefits;
 Identify, strengthen and utilize existing platforms such as the National Level Learning
Alliance Platform to disseminate and promote HWTS and knowledge management platform
and make available, outcomes of research, assessments, technical reports, and instructions in
the form of fact sheets and other BCC materials on HWTS technologies, delivery models,
projects and programs.

3.3.6 FINANCING AND PARTNERSHIPS
Secure necessary financial support for implementation of HWTS

 Develop short, medium and long-term resource mobilization programmes to finance the
implementation of the all components of the HWTS strategy and priority actions. The
Government of Ghana (GoG), Development Partners (DPs) and private sector providers have
been the sources of funding existing HWTS initiatives. These will be strengthened and
additional sources such as Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs), corporate institutions and small
scale enterprises in the informal sector will be sensitized to support the process;

 Catalyze financing solutions including microfinance/microcredit to support households in
acquire HWTS technologies;

 Secure specific funding for training and institutional capacity building, development of BCC
strategies and materials development, scale-up plans for HWTS in Ghana and products for
emergency response, and research, monitoring and evaluation;

Efforts to engage the private sector
 Engage the private sector to collaborate with universities and research agencies to invest in
research, development and deployment of effective and appropriate HWTS solutions through
partnerships that identify and create opportunities for reducing costs and ensuring
sustainability HWTS technologies.

3.3.7 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Monitoring and Evaluation will constitute a major component the HWTS

 Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for this strategy including appropriate indicators
to dovetail into existing framework for monitoring and evaluation being used in the WASH
sector;

 Review existing monitoring and evaluation platforms across the various WASH subsectors
including rural and small towns water (DiMES) and environmental sanitation sub sector
(MiNTESA) to include specific indicators on HWTS;

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4 IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS

4.1 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
The lead ministry for coordinating the implementation of the HWTS Strategy is the Ministry of Local
Government and Rural Development. Except otherwise delegated to other Ministries, Departments
and Agencies (MDAs) below, MLGRD shall be responsible for the timely execution of the strategies
and action items outlined in this national strategy.

In collaboration with relevant MDAs including MWRWH, CWSA, GWCL, GHS, FDB, GSA and GES-
SHEP, MLGRD will be responsible for:

i. Developing and implementing campaigns designed to build awareness of the risk of
waterborne diseases, the link between water and health and the value of effective
HWTS strategies in preventing diseases;

ii. Positioning HWTS interventions as part of the national strategies for water, hygiene
and sanitation including the National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action
Plan;

iii. Reviewing HWTS messages contained in Behavior Change Communication (BCC)
materials;

iv. Coordinating implementers of HWTS in Ghana including NGOs and the Private
sector and sharing information relevant to HWTS;

v. Regulation and certification of HWTS products and services in conjunction with the
Ghana Standards Authority;

vi. Assessing the effectiveness of HWTS solutions in accordance with water quality
guidelines developed by the World Health Organisation, Ministry of Health and the
Ghana Standards Authority;

vii. Monitoring and evaluation of strategic and implementation actions, outputs,
outcomes and impacts;

viii. Regular review and revision of the strategy as necessary;

ix. Establish a Centre of Excellence on HWTS technologies, BCC/IEC materials,
implementation strategies and best practices;

x. Coordinate with sector knowledge management platforms including RCN, EHSD
and CLTS websites to disseminate HWTS and other information, such as research,
assessments of pilot projects, and international developments in HWTS;

xi. Convene and chair a national technical working group on HWTS which will provide
oversight responsibility for the implementation of this strategy. The technical
working group will include representatives from MLGRD, MWRWH, MoH,
GHS/FDB, CONIWAS, UNICEF, WHO, CWSA, private sector and NGOs
implementing HWTS programs and such other organizations as MLGRD shall deem

9

appropriate. The technical working group on HWTS shall meet at least quarterly to
review progress in implementing the strategy and make recommendations.

Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing

The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing will ensure that household treatment and safe
water storage is given prominence in a review of the National Water Policy and its accompanying
implementation plan – Water Sector Strategic Development Plan. The Ministry will also ensure that
its allied implementation agencies i.e. the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water
and Sanitation Agency make HTWS a priority and allocate adequate resources towards implementing
specific provisions of this strategy.

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education will oversee the integration of research, implementation and training on
HWTS in schools. The ministry will also play the lead role in ensuring that HWTS is mainstreamed
within the SHEP programme and other educational activities.

Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS)

The Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service and Health Promotion Unit will ensure
that HWTS strategy is mainstreamed into the National Health Policy and is reflected in the Ministry‘s
sector plans. It will also ensure that HWTS features prominently in health outreach programmes
across all levels especially at the district and sub district levels.

Ministry of Education/Ghana Education Service

The Ministry provides oversight responsibility for basic, secondary and tertiary education in Ghana.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Component of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) is
an integral part of strategies for water related (basic) sanitation promotion including HWTS. The
GES/SHEP will work in partnership with CWSA and MLGRD/EHSD to mainstream HWTS into
SHEP.

Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is responsible for the preparation and approval of the national revenue
and expenditure budget. MoF will ensure the timely disbursement of budget allocations to the
relevant sector Ministries, Departments and Agencies including MLGRD and support GoG in
securing the required financing for implementing this strategy.

National Development Planning Commission

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) will provide guidelines and support
MLGRD to review this strategy and accompanying Country Action Plan in accordance with the
national planning cycle.

Ministry of Energy

The Ministry of Energy (MoEn) plays a critical role in ensuring availability and regular supply of a
reliable source of energy especially electricity for water supply. Accordingly, MLGRD will leverage
MoEn participation on the proposed Inter Ministerial Steering Committee to advocate for regular
supply of energy to water treatment plants, which is critical for promoting HWTS.

Community Water and Sanitation Agency

Being the regulator and facilitator for ensuring the delivery of safe water in rural areas and small
towns, CWSA will work in conjunction with EHSD-MLGRD in rolling out implementation of the
HTWS strategy and model. CWSA will also ensure that HTWS indicators are mainstreamed into its

10

M&E system (DiMES) in order to track and report on progress in achieving the targets set in the
HTWS strategy and its accompanying Country Action Plan.
Ghana Water Company Limited
The Ghana Water Company Limited will ensure the regular supply of safe drinking water in urban
areas and support user education on water treatment and safe storage. Working in partnership with
the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), GWCL will ensure that other secondary and
tertiary providers in urban areas deliver water that meets quality standards.
Ghana Standards Authority
The Ghana Standards Authority will develop and review national standards for safe water supply at
the point of use and for assessment of HWTS products.
National Disaster Management Organisation
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) will ensure that households adopt
appropriate household drinking water treatment and safe storage during emergencies.
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies
Within the framework of Ghana‘s decentralization programme, Metropolitan, Municipal and District
Assemblies (MMDAs) will play the lead role in ensuring implementation of the HTWS strategy at the
district and sub district level. They will ensure that HTWS is mainstreamed into their respective
District Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plans (DESSAPs) and District Water and
Sanitation Plans (DWSPs) and ensure its effective implementation.

4.2 TIMEFRAME FOR IMPLEMENTING STRATEGY

The timeframe for implementing strategic actions in this strategy has been defined in the
accompanying Country Action Plan.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), working in partnership with
the National Technical Working Group on HWTS will establish a specific schedule for the
implementation of the priority action items outlined in this strategy. Implementation of this strategy
will be phased with clear milestones which will be in tandem planning guidelines issued by the
National Development Planning Commission as well as Ghana‘s commitments to the Sanitation and
Water for All (SWA) initiative. The Country Action Plan will be aimed at achieving the main goal of
this strategy, which is health for all by 2025.

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