The Role of the Community Management Model towards Improved and Sustainable Access to Potable Water in Ghana (A Case of Nadowli District)

Abstract

In rural Ghana, provision of water facilities adopts the demand driven approach and the facilities are community managed. This approach emerged because the supply driven and centralised system of providing water facilities could not sustain access to potable water especially in rural areas. The demand driven approach is expected to guarantee sustainability in access to water. In 1994, Ghana launched the National Community Water and Sanitation Programme with Community Management as a core strategy. This paper assesses the role of community ownership and management strategy towards access to water in the Nadowli District in Ghana. Data was collected through household interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews in 10 communities in the District. The findings showed that the community ownership and management strategy has improved access to potable water in Ghana and the Nadowli District in particular. As at December 2008, 88.2 per cent of the District population had access to potable water.