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<p>Water insecurity is a persistent challenge in rural sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where limited infrastructure, poor maintenance, and weak local governance contribute to unreliable water access. Residents, particularly smallholders in northern Ghana, face increasing challenges in accessing safe water. In response, communities have established Water and Sanitation Committees (WATSANs) to facilitate the provision of safe water from various Water Supply Sources (WSS). Yet, the water insecurity jointly linked to WATSANs and WSS remains underexplored. Guided by the Integrated Water Resources Management Framework (IWMF), this study examines the combined effects of WSS and WATSANs functionality on household-level water insecurity in Ghana’s Upper West Region through a cross-sectional survey of 517 smallholder farmers' households. Results from binary logistic regression show that households dependent on non-governmental WSS (OR = 0.402, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), members of Village Savings and Loans Associations (OR = 0.419, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), beneficiaries of some government social support schemes like LEAP and NHIS (OR = 0.362, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and those with good water storage facilities (OR = 0.425, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) were less prone to water insecurity. Additionally, communities without functional WATSANs (OR = 2.785, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), time spent collecting water (OR = 1.013, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), untreated water (OR = 2.977, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and the dry season (OR = 2.136, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) likely increase the risk of water insecurity. Water insecurity in rural Ghana is shaped by both infrastructure and local governance. Strengthening WATSANs, supporting non-governmental WSS, expanding social protection, educating communities on safe water practices, and investing in resilient infrastructure can reduce household vulnerability. The findings emphasize integrated water governance linked to Sustainable Development Goal 6 for equitable water access.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Water supply sources, management committees, and water insecurity in semi-arid northwest Ghana

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月31日

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  • Cornelius K. A. Pienaah,
  • Daniel Amoak,
  • Evans Batung,
  • Cornelius Dassah,
  • Mildred Naamwintome Molle,
  • Roger Antabe,
  • Isaac Luginaah

摘要

Water insecurity is a persistent challenge in rural sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where limited infrastructure, poor maintenance, and weak local governance contribute to unreliable water access. Residents, particularly smallholders in northern Ghana, face increasing challenges in accessing safe water. In response, communities have established Water and Sanitation Committees (WATSANs) to facilitate the provision of safe water from various Water Supply Sources (WSS). Yet, the water insecurity jointly linked to WATSANs and WSS remains underexplored. Guided by the Integrated Water Resources Management Framework (IWMF), this study examines the combined effects of WSS and WATSANs functionality on household-level water insecurity in Ghana’s Upper West Region through a cross-sectional survey of 517 smallholder farmers' households. Results from binary logistic regression show that households dependent on non-governmental WSS (OR = 0.402, p < 0.01), members of Village Savings and Loans Associations (OR = 0.419, p < 0.05), beneficiaries of some government social support schemes like LEAP and NHIS (OR = 0.362, p < 0.01), and those with good water storage facilities (OR = 0.425, p < 0.001) were less prone to water insecurity. Additionally, communities without functional WATSANs (OR = 2.785, p < 0.001), time spent collecting water (OR = 1.013, p < 0.001), untreated water (OR = 2.977, p < 0.001), and the dry season (OR = 2.136, p < 0.001) likely increase the risk of water insecurity. Water insecurity in rural Ghana is shaped by both infrastructure and local governance. Strengthening WATSANs, supporting non-governmental WSS, expanding social protection, educating communities on safe water practices, and investing in resilient infrastructure can reduce household vulnerability. The findings emphasize integrated water governance linked to Sustainable Development Goal 6 for equitable water access.

Graphical abstract