Poverty politics and governance of potable water services: the core–periphery syntax in Metropolitan Accra, Ghana

In developing countries, increasing urbanization amidst chronic financial constraints sharply limits the authorities’ ability to provide universal urban infrastructural services. This tendency creates complex networks of governance that remains largely understudied and not clearly understood. This article examines this nascent literature, focusing on Metropolitan Accra’s experience through the sustainable development goal lens: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. Based on the analysis of 26 in-depth interviews with key informants about the current processes, technologies and multiplicities of governance approaches, we demonstrate how the private sector does not only play a significant role in shaping the water dialogue but also has introduced its own modes of governance, which sometimes usurps preferences for public services. Ultimately, differences in procedural legalities and functionalities have spurred (un)healthy competition between the multiple governance modes, spearheaded by the private firms. Concluding, we caution that the multiplicity of management practices devoid of efficient and effective regulatory framework creates indecisive outcomes. Further, we suggest that the development of water-related capacity, both at the individual and institutional levels, will be fundamental in the realization of sustainable development goal 6 by 2030

The divergence between acceptability of municipal services and urbanization in developing countries: insights from Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

In most developing countries, the provision of municipal services and infrastructure invariably fails to match the pace and demands of urbanization. The outcome is often increased informality due to improper planning, official bureaucratic barriers, and perhaps, insufficient and shrinking public resources, which then makes leveraging private capital for public service provision imperative. Drawing on in-depth qualitative fieldwork in two Ghanaian cities this paper aims to extend literature on the divergence between service provision and urbanization in developing countries. More specifically, it attempts to qualify recent macro-level data indicating that access to water, sanitation and electricity services in Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi are improving substantively. Contrary to dominant policy narratives circulating in Ghana, we illustrate how the acceptability of key municipal services within urban settings is often inadequate, and how acceptability is tied to spatial and temporal factors. We then identify and examine the reasons underpinning these variations. Through exploring residents’ perceptions of key services, and examining critically the possibility and feasibility of meeting urban service needs through leveraging private resources, this paper contributes to broader academic debates over urban service provision, while also feeding into contemporary policy discussions concerning how to achieve several of the SDGs by 2030

Mobile telephony services and rural-urban linkages

Mobile telephony services and rural-urban linkage

Urban residents’ access to water, sanitation, electricity and transport, and the acceptability of services. Work Package 4: Access to services in low-income city communities

Urban residents’ access to water, sanitation, electricity and transport, and the acceptability of services. Work Package 4: Access to services in low-income city communitie

Acceptability of urban water, sanitation, electricity and transport services

The quality and acceptability of services in a range of urban communities were investigated by the RurbanAfrica project. Research was undertaken through focus group discussions and interviews with individual residents in 30 settlements in six cities- Douala and Bafoussam in Cameroon, Accra and Sekondi- Takoradi in Ghana and Dar es Salaam and Arusha in Tanzania. Residents reported a multitude of challenges in meeting their needs for water, sanitation, electricity and transport. Overall, their highest priorities for improvement were urban transport and water supply, followed by sanitation. Electricity was the lowest priority overall, though it was still first or second priority in six of the 30 settlements. The lower priority for improving sanitation than water supply contrasts with reported coverage levels which are twice as high for water supply as for sanitation, suggesting that “coverage” by improved water supply does not imply an acceptable level of service

Access to services in low income urban communities in Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania

Rapid urbanisation and rising population growth in may countries is putting increasing pressure on the provision of services including water, sanitation, health, education, electricity, mobile phones, transport and street lighting. People living in urban areas have better access to services (water supply, sanitation, health services, schools, mobile phones) than those living in rural areas, despite the challenges of keeping up with growing urban populations. Completed as part of the 'RurbanAfrica' research project this paper provides an overview of services by low-income communities in urban areas of four case study countries; Cameroon, Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania, outlining the barriers to access for each service. In all four countries, urban households have much better access to improved water sources and mobile phones than to improved sanitation