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LAUNCH OF THE REPORT OF THE TISDA WATER STUDY. Overview of the Report by Vitus Adaboo Azeem – ED/GII Coconut Groove Hotel, Accra September 22, 2011. Outline of Presentation. Introduction of Ghana Integrity Initiative The Research Project Broader Governance Issues
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LAUNCH OF THE REPORT OF THE TISDA WATER STUDY Overview of the Report by Vitus Adaboo Azeem – ED/GII Coconut Groove Hotel, Accra September 22, 2011
Outline of Presentation • Introduction of Ghana Integrity Initiative • The Research Project • Broader Governance Issues • Overview of the Water sector • Country Data • Water Resources Situation • Water Sector Governance • Rural Water Supply • Urban Water Supply • Achievements, Challenges, Opportunities & Recommendations
Ghana Integrity Initiative • GII was established in 1999 as a non-profit civil empowerment organization with a vision of a corruption-free Ghana • GII is the local chapter of Transparency International (TI), the leading international non-governmental organization (NGO) devoted solely to the fight against corruption worldwide. • It strives to be the leading anti-corruption organization empowering citizens to demand responsiveness, accountability and transparency from people and institutions in Ghana.
The Research Project • Following a decision to focus on improved service delivery through a reduction in corruption TI sought funding to undertake the project - • “Transparency & Integrity in Service Delivery in Africa” (TISDA) in a number of African countries focusing on Health, Water and Education. • The project is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through Transparency International Secretariat for a three-year period • Participating chapters were allowed to choose the sector they want and GII chose to work on water.
Why GII Chose to focus on Water Water is a basic necessity and cannot afford to be inaccessible. Quality water positively impacts all other basic necessities of life. If water is priced at an economic rate, the poor turn to low quality sources with negative implications. Low quality water and inadequate sanitation facilities have health implications The poor who already cannot afford quality health care face a double jeopardy Access to water impacts enrolment in school by the girl-child The Water sector is also a national policy focus – GPRS & MDGs
The Research/Project Approach • The project aims at identifying risks related to a lack of transparency and integrity and their potential negative impacts on water supply performance. • Comprised two phases: • The Assessment / Survey phase (2009 - 2010) • Advocacy Phase (2011)
Sectoral Mapping Exercise • Sector-related expertise available within the national chapter • Sector-related studies and research carried out by others • Sector-related projects/activities carried out by others • List of existing and potential partners with expertise in the sector and/or interest in anti-corruption work • Donors supporting work in the sector • Journalists and other members of the media potentially interested in the programme
The First Phase • Identification of key stakeholders in the water sector • Consultative meetings with key stakeholders. • Establishment of a Steering Committee • Preparation of water sector diagnosis • Case studies – Madina & Nima (GAR), Ahoe & Adaklu Aboadi (VR), Bekwai (AR) • Community meetings on the case studies • Validation workshop on National study
Rev 1: Broader Governance Issues • The basis of Ghana’s governance is the 1992 Constitution which emphasises • transparency, • integrity, • Accountability; and, • Participation in all spheres of development. • Several Acts & Regulations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability: • Audit service Act 2000; • Asset Declaration Act 1998; • Public Procurement Act 2003; • Financial Administration Act 2003, • Whistleblower Act 2006; and • the Local Government Act (1993).
Rev 2: Broader Governance Issues • The media is the most free in Africa and has been at the forefront in the fight against corruption. • The establishment of state institutions like the CHRAJ, the SFO (EOCO) and Office of Accountability (Research Unit at the Castle) seek to curb corruption • The formation of Ghana Integrity Initiative and the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition (public, private and Civil Society Organizations) to focus on the fight against corruption • However, the general perception is that corruption is prevalent and a serious problem in the country.
The Current Situation - Urban • Most urban communities have access to pipe-borne water. • However, some of these communities, even in Accra, do not have access to water delivery • Even those who have access to water delivery, it is irregular and unsatisfactory • Yet, water tariffs are relatively high and unaffordable by poor urban communities • Illegal connections to the systems and inability to collect water tariffs compound the problems of urban water supply.
The Current Situation - Urban • Sanitation in the cities has become a major problem due to lack of proper planning and enforcement of building regulations • Natural water bodies and choked gutters breed mosquitoes, resulting in high rates of malaria • Women and children are the worse affected.
The Current Situation - Rural • Rural communities depend on water from natural sources such as rivers, streams, etc. as well as wells and boreholes. • Rural communities, unlike the urban communities, are required to contribute to the cost of the systems and maintain them. • Rural water sources are more reliable, especially when the rains are regular but are less hygienic.
The Current Situation - Rural • Some of the water sources have problems of taste, high levels of flouride, etc. • In the rural communities, there is virtually no sanitation facilities or limited facilities • Malaria is a problem in the rural areas due to ignorance of, and non-adherence to, hygienic practices & poverty. • Guinea worm (a water-borne disease) is also prevalent in some rural communities, requiring serious attention to avoid infection.
Water Resources Situation • Domestic and industrial urban supplies are based on surface water (Some with quality problems due to mining activities). • In rural areas, groundwater is used in hand pump schemes (200,000 boreholes and hand dug wells country wide). • Rainwater harvesting is becoming more common • The main non-consumptive uses are hydropower generation, inland fisheries and water navigation
Water Policies • National Water Policy (2008) • Aims at sustainable development of water resources. • Stresses the coordination between sector institutions and encourages private sector participation in the management of water systems. • Anti corruption policies • There are no special anti-corruption policies for the WASH sector - same as those that apply for other sectors in the country
Sector Legislations Specific acts and legislations related to water and sanitation: • Article 269 of the 1992 constitution, Local Government Act, 1993, The Statutory Corporations (Conversions to Company) Act 1993 (Act 461), PURC Act, 1997, CWSA Act, 1998, WRC Act (1996), Water Use Regulation (2001), Standard for Drinking Water Supply (1998) - GSB. • The existing legislations as well as institutional responsibilities need to be reviewed for possible gaps and performance problems of the different organizations. • This requires strong political commitment as it is clearly necessary. For example, sanctions and rewards are missing
Water Sector Financing • Water sector financing depends on three main pillars; Donors (90%), Payment of tariffs by users, modest contribution from government . • Grant funding from donors are managed by PMU financed by the donors who work closely with RWSTs and MMDA’s in project management, contract management. • National funding for water service delivery by MMDA’s are obtained from DACF and IGF. • The contribution of NGO’s is largely unknown because it is not captured in the budgeting process at national or local level.
Affordability, cost recovery, cost sharing • Urban supplies: Tariffs paid by users are used: • to recover cost, • to meet operations & maintenance cost • For repayment of investment cost. • Tariff structure is based on progressive pricing, allowing cross-subsidies from large users. • GHC 0.66/ M3 (lifeline tariff) • GHC0.91 M3 (excess 20M3) • GHC1.10 (commercial tariff) making the poor pay higher price
Affordability, cost recovery, cost sharing • Rural Supplies: Tariffs paid by users are used to meet O&M cost , major repairs, replacement and extension to new areas. • 90% of construction cost is subsidized • 5% contribution each by community and MMDA’s towards capital cost of water supply systems • Tariffs Domestic rate: GHC 1.65 /M3 Commercial rate: GHC 1.85 /M3 • Estimate of family expenditure on rural/small town system range b/n USD 0.94 – USD 2.76 • 90% of households pay for water through pay as you fetch or monthly fees
Funding Requirement • An amount USD 1.49 billion would be required for expansion of water supply to meet demand to 2020 (Sector Development Program – 2009). • An amount of USD 811 million would be required to meet the MDG on water in 2015. • Average inflow of resources forms 35% of the level that would be required annually. • Total financial investment needed to achieve MDG for rural water is USD 505 million. • Donor pledge from 2008-2012 (USD 175 million) leaving a gap of USD 330 million for the RWS.
Water Sector Governance • Transparency – Measures for ensuring transparency in the sector are established which include • Regular reporting systems (financial reporting/project activities), • Regular meetings , • Regular auditing of accounts and publications and documentation of the tendering process. However, compliance is weak. • Accountability - Accountability efforts have been upwards through routine submission of monthly, quarterly, annual, project completion and financial reports required by law and project agreements. However, processes for ensuring downward accountability is very low.
Water Sector Governance • User participation: • Thisis a central theme in NWP but is very low. • Users do not participate in decision making and meetings are not held with users. • Gender issues have duly been acknowledged in the sector including the participation of women in decision making. In the formation of watsan committees, at least 3 members (7) of the watsan committees are females.
Water Sector Governance - Grand Corruption • Single contractor buying and pricing all bidding documents, • Award of a number of contracts to the same contactor under different names, • Procuring entities making payment before due dates; • Advancing funds for mobilization beyond the 15% allowable limit, • Over- invoicing, poor contract management, • Poor training and working conditions of construction workersand • Shoddy work through the use of poor quality materials.
Water Sector Governance – Petty Corruption • Illegal connections, • Meter tampering, • Direct payment to meter readers and • Under reporting of daily sales by vendors • Illegal charges and/or over-invoicing of materials for new connection
User Perception • Some interference from politicians and traditional leaders in decision making in the Watsan and WSDB. • Revenue collectors may not deposit all the money they receive. • Powerful board members can illegally borrow money from the account and even forget to repay. • Vendors at stand posts without meters can under report sales • Remote communities are susceptible to cheating - a spare part could not be procured from a regional distributor but only the Zonal center which involves significant transport cost
Achievements • The research /risk mapping phase has been completed and the report is being printed. • Due to the delay in the advocacy phase not much progress has been made so far with regards to real change • However, informal influence and awareness raising through various stakeholder meetings and feedback in the community have been achieved • Partnerships and working relationships established • A non-functional borehole in Adaklu Abuadi
Achievements • Publication of reports by water committees for community members • Organization of regular meetings by water committees for users to enable them participate in decision making • Publication of price list of spare parts and charges by area mechanics for water committee to ensure accountability • Proper record-keeping, including obtaining receipts for spare parts purchased by area mechanic • Maintenance of good hygiene at point sources.
Challenges • Difficulty in accessing relevant data due to unavailable records or reluctance to provide information needed. • Suspicion of GII’s intention by some stakeholders • Most anti-corruption work has taken place on national level and not at the local level. • Inadequate networking and advocacy on corruption in service delivery • Inadequate information and data on what happens at the decentralised level, which sets new challenges for addressing corruption and improving transparency and accountability in the sector.
Opportunities • Establishment of fair wages commission and single spine pay structure may lead to payment of realistic salaries and living wages • Since 2003, a number of laws have been enacted to strengthen transparency and accountability although many of them are not enforced; • Anti-corruption institutions and CSOs educating the public to eschew greed and be loyal to the state • Some attempt at introducing policies such as LEAP to address poverty and improve the living conditions of people.
Recommendations • There is the need to streamline and strengthen anti-corruption tools and the capacity of sector agencies to implement these tools. • There is also the need for donors to introduce anti-corruption clauses in all cooperation agreements, train their own staff or local staff to put these policies into practice and communicate on related activities and progress made, • Donors too should adhere to the highest standards of information disclosure and consultation for all water projects they support, put in place adequate monitoring mechanisms and enforce effective sanctions against corrupt employees and contractors.
