The session shared with stakeholders the findings of a six-country study on fiscal decentralization on WASH service delivery, including Ghana. One of the critical findings was the low priority and low funding for WASH activities in Ghana, particularly at the district level. The learning was for WASH stakeholders to accelerate advocacy to national and local governments as well as development partners to provide more funding to WASH activities to meet the WASH SDG six by 2030.
WaterAid Ghana led the discussions, and also shared findings of baseline study on system strengthening building blocks in Bongo.
The research findings covered sources of revenue, fiscal decentralization in WASH, case studies of Bongo and Ablekuma Assemblies, challenges of fiscal decentralization and advocacy issues.
In terms of sources of revenue to District Assemblies, the main revenue sources are:
Internal Generated Funds (IGF: Rates, fees, Licenses, Land and Royalties)
Central Government Transfers, with District Assembly
Common Fund (DACF)
District Performance assessment Tool (DPAT)/District
Development Fund (DDF)
Urban Development Grant, Mineral Development Fund
Transfers from line ministries. For example, Ministry of Health (MOH)
In terms of fiscal decentralization in WASH, there is no fiscal decentralization in urban water supply services- the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), a public utility organization provides water to urban population with limited involvement of local authorities in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. No direct cash transfer goes to Districts for water service provision. In the rural and small peri-urban water sector where the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) operates, the districts provide very minimal support to CWSA for new facilities and little rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance.
Participants contributions centered on the need for intensive advocacy and dialogue with Central Government Ministries and agencies to promote effective decentralization and get more funds to the districts to sustain gains made on WASH service delivery. Participants expressed the fear that sustainability of WASH facilities and services will be compromised if districts do not have funds to undertake operation and maintenance and get needy communities the WASH they desire so much. It was also suggested to get the private sector partnership to provide WASH facilities and services to the last mile communities.

The NLLAP session had full participation with stakeholders drawn from government, civil society, private sector and non-state actors, academia, young professionals, as well as members of the media. For more on this event visit: https://www.washghana.net/sites/default/files/WASH%20REFLECTIONS%2097%20...