Why do some wastewater treatment facilities work when the majority fail? Case study from the sanitation sector in Ghana
Failure is the norm for urban sanitation infrastructure in Ghana: of the rather substantial number of wastewater and faecal sludge treatment plants, with about 70 mostly decentralized systems throughout the country, less than 10 are operating effectively. This research presents an overview of the related sanitation situation in Ghana, and compares the few successful facilities with their failed counterparts in order to decipher the factors that enable the former to prevail. The research reveals important differences in the operation and maintenance (O&M) strategies, financing schemes and incentive structures in the successful versus unsuccessful facilities, which are probably not unique to Ghana. Based on the findings, we suggest a set of guiding questions for incorporation into the existing planning, funding or general decision-making framework in order to avoid commonly observed traps, which not only undermine progress in the delivery of sanitation services but also harshly affect environmental and public health.AECOM and SANDEC (2010) A rapid assessment of septage management in Asia: Policies and practices in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, AECOM, SANDEC/EAWAG, USAID/RDMA.
Akuffo, S.B. (1998) Pollution Control in a Developing Economy: A Study of the Situation in Ghana, 2nd edn, Ghana Universities Press, Accra.
Awuah, E., Donkor, E. and Sanjok, E.K.M. (2008) ‘Management of sewerage system: Case study in Tema’, Proceedings of the 33 WEDC International Conference, 7-11 April 2008, Accra, Ghana.
Ayee, J. and Crook, R. (2003) ‘Toilet Wars’: Urban Sanitation Services and the Politics of Public-Private Partnerships in Ghana, IDS Working Paper 213, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK: 40.
MLGRDE (2008) Preliminary National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Government of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Murray, A. and Buckley, C. (2010) ‘Designing reuse-oriented sanitation infrastructure: The design for service planning approach’, in P. Drechsel, C.A. Scott, L. Raschid-Sally, M. Redwood and A. Bahri (eds), Wastewater Irrigation and Health: Assessing and Mitigation Risks in Low-income Countries, pp. 303-18, Earthscan-IDRC-IWMI, London.
Salifu, L. (WasteCare Ltd) (2005) ‘Assessment of national sanitation policies: Ghana case’, WaterAid: 53.
AECOM and SANDEC (2010) A rapid assessment of septage management in Asia: Policies and practices in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, AECOM, SANDEC/EAWAG, USAID/RDMA.
Akuffo, S.B. (1998) Pollution Control in a Developing Economy: A Study of the Situation in Ghana, 2nd edn, Ghana Universities Press, Accra.
Awuah, E., Donkor, E. and Sanjok, E.K.M. (2008) ‘Management of sewerage system: Case study in Tema’, Proceedings of the 33 WEDC International Conference, 7-11 April 2008, Accra, Ghana.
Ayee, J. and Crook, R. (2003) ‘Toilet Wars’: Urban Sanitation Services and the Politics of Public-Private Partnerships in Ghana, IDS Working Paper 213, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK: 40.
MLGRDE (2008) Preliminary National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Government of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Murray, A. and Buckley, C. (2010) ‘Designing reuse-oriented sanitation infrastructure: The design for service planning approach’, in P. Drechsel, C.A. Scott, L. Raschid-Sally, M. Redwood and A. Bahri (eds), Wastewater Irrigation and Health: Assessing and Mitigation Risks in Low-income Countries, pp. 303-18, Earthscan-IDRC-IWMI, London.
Salifu, L. (WasteCare Ltd) (2005) ‘Assessment of national sanitation policies: Ghana case’, WaterAid: 53.
AECOM and SANDEC (2010) A rapid assessment of septage management in Asia: Policies and practices in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, AECOM, SANDEC/EAWAG, USAID/RDMA.
Akuffo, S.B. (1998) Pollution Control in a Developing Economy: A Study of the Situation in Ghana, 2nd edn, Ghana Universities Press, Accra.
Awuah, E., Donkor, E. and Sanjok, E.K.M. (2008) ‘Management of sewerage system: Case study in Tema’, Proceedings of the 33 WEDC International Conference, 7-11 April 2008, Accra, Ghana.
Ayee, J. and Crook, R. (2003) ‘Toilet Wars’: Urban Sanitation Services and the Politics of Public-Private Partnerships in Ghana, IDS Working Paper 213, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK: 40.
MLGRDE (2008) Preliminary National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Government of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Murray, A. and Buckley, C. (2010) ‘Designing reuse-oriented sanitation infrastructure: The design for service planning approach’, in P. Drechsel, C.A. Scott, L. Raschid-Sally, M. Redwood and A. Bahri (eds), Wastewater Irrigation and Health: Assessing and Mitigation Risks in Low-income Countries, pp. 303-18, Earthscan-IDRC-IWMI, London.
Salifu, L. (WasteCare Ltd) (2005) ‘Assessment of national sanitation policies: Ghana case’, WaterAid: 53.
AECOM and SANDEC (2010) A rapid assessment of septage management in Asia: Policies and practices in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, AECOM, SANDEC/EAWAG, USAID/RDMA.
Akuffo, S.B. (1998) Pollution Control in a Developing Economy: A Study of the Situation in Ghana, 2nd edn, Ghana Universities Press, Accra.
Awuah, E., Donkor, E. and Sanjok, E.K.M. (2008) ‘Management of sewerage system: Case study in Tema’, Proceedings of the 33 WEDC International Conference, 7-11 April 2008, Accra, Ghana.
Ayee, J. and Crook, R. (2003) ‘Toilet Wars’: Urban Sanitation Services and the Politics of Public-Private Partnerships in Ghana, IDS Working Paper 213, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK: 40.
MLGRDE (2008) Preliminary National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan (NESSAP), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Government of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Murray, A. and Buckley, C. (2010) ‘Designing reuse-oriented sanitation infrastructure: The design for service planning approach’, in P. Drechsel, C.A. Scott, L. Raschid-Sally, M. Redwood and A. Bahri (eds), Wastewater Irrigation and Health: Assessing and Mitigation Risks in Low-income Countries, pp. 303-18, Earthscan-IDRC-IWMI, London.
Salifu, L. (WasteCare Ltd) (2005) ‘Assessment of national sanitation policies: Ghana case’, WaterAid: 53.
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