Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing safe, affordable, and sustainable water and sanitation services for all Ghanaians. Speaking at the event, he emphasized that while progress has been made in the WASH sector, more remains to be done, stressing the need for continued innovation, regulation, and reform to achieve lasting improvement.
He was speaking at the opening of the 36th edition of Ghana’s flagship Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) dialogue platform, the Mole Conference Series, which has just begun in Gomoa-Fetteh, Central Region.
The week-long conference, themed “Advancing Innovation, Partnerships and Evidence for a Harmonized and Regulated WASH Sector in Ghana,” has brought together government officials, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, academia, and the private sector to evaluate Ghana’s progress and strategize toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All) by 2030.
Government’s renewed resolve
Citing the 2025 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, Hon. Adjei revealed that access to basic water services in Ghana has increased from 81% in 2015 to 90% in 2025, while access to basic sanitation has risen from 21% to 32% over the same period.
“These achievements show that we are moving forward,” he said, “but disparities remain in rural and peri-urban areas, and climate change continues to test our systems.”
He outlined six key pillars guiding government’s transformation agenda for the WASH sector — universal access, institutional reform, innovation, sustainable financing, climate resilience, and evidence-based partnership — and called on participants to deliver practical recommendations linking policy to implementation.
“The Mole 36 Conference should mark a new era of purpose, partnership, and progress,” he emphasized.
Strengthening local governance
Special Guest Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, called for stronger regulation and empowered local governance systems to consolidate the nation’s WASH gains.
He lauded the achievements of open defecation-free communities, school sanitation programs, and digital waste management initiatives, describing them as clear signs of progress.
“Change becomes sustainable when communities own it,” Hon. Ibrahim noted, citing successes from Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi.
He, however, warned that rapid urbanization, climate impacts, and infrastructure gaps remain pressing challenges, urging that “our water and sanitation systems must be climate-resilient and future-ready.”
The Minister announced plans to modernize environmental sanitation services, strengthen MMDAs, and attract private investment into the sanitation economy.
“Innovation will drive our next phase of progress,” he added. “We must nurture young entrepreneurs driving solutions in recycling, toilet construction, and water vending.”
Civil society’s call for collaboration
In her welcome address, Dr. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), commended government’s increased funding commitment, including a 20% rise in the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for sanitation and water.
She acknowledged the challenges resulting from reduced donor funding, particularly from USAID, but stressed that Ghana’s WASH sector remains resilient, adaptive, and innovation-driven.
“This year’s theme captures our shared urgency as we approach the 2030 SDG 6 deadline,” Dr. Akanyani said. “The Mole platform continues to be our moral compass for accountability, collaboration, and learning.”
The Mole legacy and the way forward
Since its inception in 1989, the Mole Conference has evolved from a modest NGO dialogue into Ghana’s leading multi-stakeholder platform for WASH policy and learning.
The 2025 edition runs from November 2–7 and features plenary sessions, exhibitions, field visits, and technical discussions focusing on innovation, inclusive financing, digital governance, and climate adaptation.
Participants are expected to develop actionable policy recommendations to enhance data-driven decision-making and accelerate Ghana’s progress toward universal WASH access.
A collective call to action
Both ministers appealed to citizens, institutions, and communities to take shared responsibility for maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
“A clean Ghana should not be a dream but a daily duty,” Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim stressed.
Echoing the same message, Hon. Adjei concluded:
“The choices we make today will determine the health, dignity, and prosperity of generations to come. Let us leave this conference united by action, not just dialogue.”
About the Mole Conference
The Mole Conference Series is Ghana’s premier multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and learning in the WASH sector. Organized annually by CONIWAS, it brings together government, development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector to drive innovation, collaboration, and accountability toward universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
By Samuel Asamoah
