COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RURAL WATER AND SANITATION DELIVERY IN THE NKORANZA NORTH DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING COLLEGE OF ART AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Science Degree (M.Sc.) in Development Policy and Planning BY EMMANUEL BOATENG MARCH, 2015 i DECLARATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the Master of Science and that, to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published by another person nor material which has been presented for the award of any degree of the University, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. EMMANUEL BOATENG ………………………… ……………………… (Student) Signature Date Certified by: DR. ERIC ODURO-OFORI ………………………… ……………………… (Supervisor) Signature Date DR. DAN INKOOM ………………………… ……………………… (Head of Department) Signature Date ii ABSTRACT Water is life, for people and for the planet and sanitation is dignity. Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goal 7 specifically calls for reducing by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation by 2015. For Ghana to achieve this target the available water and sanitation facilities needs to be maintained and sustained so that new ones can be added. To maintain and sustain water and sanitation facilities, direct beneficiaries and other stakeholders have to be involved actively in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This called for a study to ascertain the level of community participation in water and sanitation delivery. The case study approach was adopted and Nkoranza North District offered the study an opportunity to do an in-depth study. This study therefore employed preliminary investigations, interviews, and focus group discussions to unravel the extent to which communities were involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of water and sanitation delivery. To unravel the situation and achieve the objectives of the study, certain questions have to be responded to. The study sought to answer the following questions: i. What informs the provision of water and sanitation facilities to rural communities? ii. What are the processes and modes of community participation in the service delivery? iii. What factors influence community participation in rural water and sanitation delivery? iv. What is the capacity of assemblies in service delivery? v. What could be done to enhance community participation in basic infrastructure delivery? The study revealed that the DA partially involved the beneficiary communities and other stakeholders in the planning processes, implementation and monitoring of preparation and implementation of the DWSP. However, the involvement of the stakeholders took the form of non-participation and tokenism. To improve on the situation, the DCE must be made to sign performance contract for preparation and implementation of development plans. Also, community involvement in project planning, implementation, and monitoring has to be expanded and taken the form of citizens‟ power. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful production of this thesis would not have been possible without the help, encouragement and commitment of individuals, groups and organizations whose efforts must be acknowledged. First and foremost, I am deeply indebted to my supervisor Dr. Eric Oduro-Ofori for his tolerance, direction and encouragement without which the study would not have taken its current shape. I am also grateful to the lecturers of the Development Policy and Planning (DEPP) programme whose efforts in the production of this thesis must be duly acknowledged. My deep appreciation also goes to my colleagues, Ms. Irene Martha Plange, District Social Welfare Officer, and Mr. Supreme, Community Development Officer for Asutifi South District Assembly for their technical support in the administration of the questionnaire, typing and analysis of the data for the study. Again, my sincere gratitude goes out to the following individuals, institutions and organizations of the study district and communities who contributed immensely to the success of the study by responding to the questionnaires and checklist administered for the study. i. The District Planning Officer and the District Water and Sanitation Team Leader, Nkoranza North Disrict Assembly. ii. The Staff of CWSA, Sunyani office iii. The Director and staff of Mission of Hope for Society Foundation I must also acknowledge the support and encouragement I received from Mr. Yakubu Abdul Rahman, District Co-ordinating Director, Dormaa West District Assembly, and Mr. Gado Musah, Asutifi South Distric Co-ordinating Director in pursuing this course successfully. This acknowledgement would not be complete without acknowledging the financial support and encouragement I received from my dear wife Mrs. Vivian Boateng during the most difficult times of pursuing the programme. Finally, to those who played diverse roles towards the success of this thesis but whose names have not been mentioned here, I say well done (ayekoo) and may the good Lord richly bless and reward you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... x List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... xi List of Acronyms ......................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Scope of the Study............................................................................................................ 8 1.6 Relevance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Organization of the Study .............................................................................................. 10 1.8 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Definition of Concepts ................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Rural Water Supply................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 Community Participation ........................................................................................ 14 2.2.3 Sustainable Development........................................................................................ 16 2.3 Approaches to Water and Sanitation Delivery ............................................................... 17 2.3.1 Supply-Driven Approach to Water and Sanitation Provision ................................. 17 2.3.2 Demand Driven Approach to Water and Sanitation Delivery ................................ 18 v 2.4 National Water Policy .................................................................................................... 20 2.5 Stakeholders in Rural Water and Sanitation Delivery ................................................... 21 2.5.1 Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (MWRWH) ............................ 22 2.5.2 The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ................................. 22 2.5.3 Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) .............................................. 22 2.5.4 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) ................................ 23 2.5.5 The Community ...................................................................................................... 23 2.5.6 Development Partners ............................................................................................. 25 2.5.7 Non-Governmental Organizations .......................................................................... 25 2.6 Processes of Rural Water and Sanitation Delivery ........................................................ 26 2.7 Sustainability of Rural Water and Sanitation ................................................................