The Ghana Water Justice Network (GWJN) has been officially launched in Accra, calling for urgent reforms in Ghana’s water sector and declaring that access to water must be treated as a human right rather than a commercial commodity.

The Network, launched on April 16, 2026, at the Tomreik Hotel, brings together civil society organisations, community leaders, academics, and technical experts under the theme “Water for People, Not for Profit.”

In its communiqué, the group warned that Ghana’s water crisis is worsening, with many communities still lacking access to affordable and reliable water.

“For countless communities across Ghana, access to affordable and reliable water remains out of reach,” the statement noted, adding that “women and children bear the heaviest burden when water systems fail.”

The Network stressed that the situation threatens progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable water by 2030.

“We reaffirm that water must be treated as a human right in Ghana,” the communiqué stated, citing climate change, underinvestment, and environmental degradation as key drivers of the crisis.

The GWJN outlined several concerns, including chronic underfunding of the water sector, high levels of non-revenue water, weak performance of small-town water systems, and the growing impact of illegal mining on water bodies.

It also highlighted the burden of water scarcity on women and girls, stating that “the growing problem of water access forces women and girls to spend hours each day fetching water, limiting their opportunities for education, work, and public participation.”

The Network further warned against the increasing commercialisation of water, arguing that “framing water primarily as an economic commodity risks undermining its recognition as a fundamental human right.”

Health risks linked to reliance on boreholes were also raised, with concerns about contamination from illegal mining and household pollution.

Among its key demands, the Network called for immediate measures to ensure affordable water for all, including an end to water disconnections due to inability to pay.

“We advocate for inclusive, humane service delivery that prioritises dignity and access,” the group stated.

It also urged government to fully honour budget commitments for water infrastructure, strengthen water governance institutions, regulate borehole drilling, protect water bodies through enforcement of Water Protection Zones, and intensify efforts against illegal mining.

The Network concluded by reaffirming its commitment to working with policymakers and communities to advance water justice in Ghana.