The World Bank has approved an additional $30 million from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP). This second round of financing will address the financial shortfall caused by inflation and enable the Government of Ghana to complete planned water and sanitation works.
The World Bank’s support includes aiding the Government of Ghana and Ghana Water Limited (GWL) in expanding water supply and sanitation networks in urban centers, as well as improving the operational efficiency of the water utility. This effort aims to reduce non-revenue water losses, which stood at 45% in 2023.
“This additional financing will help complete the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Asafo Sewerage Network and provide improved sanitation access to 5,000 households in low-income communities,” said Robert Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. “It also aims to improve the financial sustainability of GWL.”
The GAMA SWP Project supports the government’s efforts to increase access to basic sanitation services and reduce open defecation in Ghana. The project’s activities involve local governments and project beneficiaries, leveraging local capacity wherever possible. Additionally, the project provides specific benefits for women by reducing their burden of water collection and easing their responsibility to provide water for family members during disease outbreaks.
“This additional financing will also generate climate benefits,” noted Harold Esseku, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist and Task Team Leader for the project. “Completing the gravity-operated sewerage network and treatment plant in Kumasi is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By rendering the use of aging vacuum trucks to transport sludge from septic tanks obsolete, the project will help lower CO2 emissions. Additionally, it embraces a circular economy approach by converting waste into briquettes and compost, aiming to reduce local communities’ reliance on charcoal and biofuels while providing soil conditioner for urban agriculture.”
By the end of the project, the GAMA SWP is expected to provide 563,000 people with access to improved sanitation services and 700,000 people with access to improved water supply services.
Established in 1960, the International Development Association (IDA) assists the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest credits for projects and programs that drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of disadvantaged populations. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa.
Since its inception, IDA has provided $458 billion to 114 countries. Over the last three years (FY19-FY21), IDA’s annual commitments have averaged about $29 billion, with approximately 70% directed to Africa.
