Stakeholders in the water sector have been urged to explore innovative solutions and collaborate to deliver improved and sustainable water services, especially in rural and peri-urban areas across the country.
The call was made at the 2025 Safe Water Network’s ‘Beyond the Pipe Forum’ in Accra, which brought together global leaders to explore solutions for safe water access in developing countries.
Charles Nimako, Country Director of Safe Water Network Ghana and Lead for Africa initiatives, highlighted that over the past year, their operational footprint has expanded to an additional 55,000 people in 10 communities across Ghana.
He noted that Safe Water Network has now reached 504,000 people in 158 communities.
“Together with our fellow implementers in the Safe Water Enterprise Alliance, we are now reaching more than 2 million Ghanaians with safe, affordable water.
“This is a tremendous achievement—but it’s not the finish line. It is fuel for our continued commitment to innovation, implementation, learning for improvement, knowledge sharing, and most importantly, scale,” he stated.
Mr. Nimako pledged that in the coming months, the organization will build on its progress by strengthening the technical and financial resilience of its model.
He also emphasized the importance of equipping local operators and field support teams while ensuring alignment with government priorities outlined in President John Mahama’s State of the Nation Address and the 2025 Budget.
He further called for effective collaboration to build a future where every Ghanaian has access to safely managed water services daily, in every community.
Deputy Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring synergy among all water service providers.
She described this year’s theme, “Innovating for Sustainable Safe Water Access,” as timely and crucial.
“We are at a pivotal moment in our national development journey. Just last month, President John Mahama, in his maiden State of the Nation Address to Parliament, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding water access for all Ghanaians.
“He pledged to complete ongoing water projects and initiate new ones—urban and rural alike—to ensure that every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live, enjoys the human right to safe and reliable water,” she stated.
She reaffirmed the government’s alignment with this goal, noting ongoing investments in infrastructure, institutional reforms, and digital innovation to enhance water services.
However, she admitted that the government alone cannot address all the challenges in the water sector.
“Partnerships with non-state actors—such as Safe Water Network, other members of the Safe Water Enterprises (SWE) Alliance, the private sector, and development partners—are not only welcome but essential,” she added.