Improving Participatory Water Governance in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

"The research informing this brief assessed participatory water governance in several informal settlements in Accra with a focus on LWBs, the first of which were established in 2007. In addition to responsibilities related to water distribution and payment collection, LWBs could be described as citizens associations to promote community engagement; indeed, the research found that the boards do enable a certain level of citizen engagement. Nonetheless, this brief also provides recommendations on how the boards and participatory water governance more generally could be enhanced. The study methodology involved interviews in Accra in 2011, follow-up community feedback sessions in 2012 and a comparative survey of communities in Accra and Cape Town, South Africa in early 2012. This brief focusses on the lessons from Accra, where 243 residents were surveyed across two communities: Teshie and Ashaiman. The research also draws on key informant and resident interviews conducted in Ayidiki-New Town, Nima, Sukura and Teshie."