The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has partnered with Ghana’s Minister for Sanitation to launch the U.S. Global Water Strategy High Priority Country Plan for Ghana.
The $100 million investment package was announced at the launch of the U.S. Global Water Strategy High Priority Country Plan for Ghana in Accra on Friday, October 27.
This initiative according to USAID, is in addition to $89 million that has already been invested since 2009. The $100 million affirms U.S. Support to Ghana’s Water, Sanitation and hygienic (WASH) sector for the next five years.
The United States of America (U.S.) Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, joined Ghana’s Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Dr. Freda Prempeh, for the launch of the U.S. Global Water Strategy High Priority Country Plan for Ghana.
Addressing the media, Ambassador Palmer reaffirmed the U.S. government’s support for Ghana’s WASH sector, saying, “The United States government looks forward to continuing our partnership to ensure that everyone in Ghana has access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to improve health and promote economic development. Together, we will ensure clean water and sanitation for all”.
Water insecurity, according to the US Ambassador, endangers public health, undermines economic growth, deepens inequalities, and increases the likelihood of conflict.
However, strong water, sanitation, and hygiene services are critical to increasing resilience in the face of global shocks and stressors, including pandemics and climate change.
Poor WASH services in Ghana have had a negative effect on health, education, and economic development and there are significant regional disparities in access to WASH services.
Access to clean water varies from 98% in the Greater Accra Region to 55% in the North East Region. While the national average for open defecation in rural areas is slightly over 30%, the five regions of northern Ghana have an open defecation rate above 50%.
Since 2020, Ghana has been one of 22 High Priority Countries designated by the U.S. Government for increased WASH investment.
The U.S. through USAID has been a key partner in the WASH sector in Ghana since 2009, making substantial contributions to improve public health.
By 2027, USAID aims to reach an additional 1 million people in Ghana with access to safe and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services.
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