Population: 23.5 millionAnnual no. of under-5 deaths: 55,000
Life expectancy at birth: 57 years
Population without an improved drinking water source: 18%
Sources: WHO/UNICEF, Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water, 2010; UNICEF
Transforming lives through safe water in Ghana
Safe Water Network set out in 2009 to prove that locally-owned water stations could provide safe, affordable water to people without access in Ghana. With the help of our partners from the public and private sector, we are now expanding these promising models.
Our Ghana team has focused relentlessly on streamlining local operations, improving distribution and building awareness and demand for safe water. These programs, implemented beginning in early 2011, have had a dramatic impact, greatly increasing the number of people we are reaching every day.
Year-over-year volume changes at Ghana sites
A recently-completed four-year health impact study, conducted independently by Johns Hopkins University, confirms the transformative impact that our safe water stations bring to communities.
In 2012 we completed a comprehensive review of the decentralized water market in Ghana, which included in-depth assessments of the work of other organizations and projects, to determine the most effective ways to bring affordable, reliable water to those most in need. This review, combined with our own successful field experience, is the foundation of our ambitious new growth plan for Ghana.
Future Plans
In late 2012 we will launch new community systems serving 9,000 people in two regions on the shores of Lake Volta, using our innovative Modular Slow-Sand Filtration system – a modern twist on centuries-old purification technology.
In early 2013 we will complete a project in Western Region that was partially-built but abandoned by previous donors due to technical issues. Our team has solved multiple hurdles, in part by using a new adaptation of Ultra Filtration technology, specially designed to address a challenging problem of chemical contamination and color.
 A partially built water tower in the Western Region of Ghana. Safe Water Network will upgrade and launch it with new technology. |
 Site operators trained to perform routine maintenance and monitor quality. |
Later in the year, we will test lower-cost adaptations of our approach in four districts, in order to reach smaller and poorer villages, including solar power to bring reliable water supply to villages without electricity.
To receive updates on our Ghana initiatives and learn more about Safe Water Network, sign up for our eNewsletter or contact our team at info@safewaternetwork.org.