Plan International Ghana has officially launched Phase 2 of its Integrated Package for Sustainable Community Development (IPADEV), aimed at improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in rural communities across the Guan District in the Oti Region and Wa East District in the Upper West Region.
The initiative, which will directly benefit 14,766 people, prioritises children, adolescent girls, and other vulnerable groups while promoting sustainable community development.
Speaking to Joy News at the launch, Acting Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Fred Tei-Nobi, reflected on the achievements of Phase 1 and the importance of WASH interventions.
He highlighted that Phase 1, completed in December 2025, significantly improved access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in the Jasikan Municipality of the Oti Region and West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region.
“We made considerable progress across all water, sanitation, and hand hygiene indicators, demonstrating what can be achieved when communities, schools, and partners work together,” Tei-Nobi remarked.
He stressed that access to clean water and sanitation is not just a health matter but a question of dignity, equality, and empowerment.
“Improved water services strengthen the position of girls and women in communities, allowing them to thrive and participate fully in social and economic life. When WASH facilities are inadequate, it is the girls and women who bear the greatest burden,” he explained.
Tei-Nobi further cited alarming statistics from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, noting that only 25 percent of Ghanaians have access to basic sanitation.
“About 56 percent rely on shared latrines, one percent use unimproved facilities, and 18 percent practice open defecation. Three out of four households are at risk of consuming contaminated water due to poor sanitation and hygiene practices, and nearly 90 percent of those practicing open defecation come from the poorest households,” he observed.
Looking ahead, he outlined the goals of Phase 2, which will run for 32 months with a budget of 1.36 million euros.
“Our interventions go beyond infrastructure. We are committed to creating safe, dignified learning environments, promoting behavioral change, and integrating gender equality at every level. Menstrual hygiene management will remain a central focus, with education and essential products provided to support girls’ retention in schools,” Tei-Nobi stated.
Also speaking at the launch, IPADEV Project Manager William Domapielle detailed the technical aspects and scope of the initiative. He explained that Phase 2 builds on the achievements of Phase 1, continuing to address water, sanitation, menstrual hygiene, hand hygiene, and livelihood empowerment.
“The goal is to create resilient environments for children at home and school, ensuring their health, safety, and educational outcomes improve,” he said.
Domapielle outlined the project’s four core objectives: increasing access to safe drinking water, improving sanitation and hygiene, strengthening gender-responsive parenting and healthcare, and enhancing livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and girls.
He indicated that 14,766 direct beneficiaries will be reached, with an additional 28,000 indirectly benefiting through improved community infrastructure and programs.
He also provided specific details about the solar-powered water systems, explaining that the project will construct water facilities in eight communities, transitioning from electricity-dependent mechanisms to solar systems.
“Solar ensures that communities directly manage and sustain the systems without bearing electricity costs. We will provide hand pumps in areas where borehole yields are insufficient for mechanisation,” he elaborated.
Domapielle added that Water and Sanitation Management Teams will receive training, and water safety plans will be developed to maintain quality from source to household.
“We will train Water and Sanitation Management Teams and develop water safety plans to ensure the quality of water from the source to the household, he expanded.
“We are using the Community-Led Total Sanitation approach, and natural leaders will help households construct their own toilets. For the most vulnerable families who cannot afford latrines, we will provide targeted support,” he continued.
According to Domapielle, the project will also prioritise menstrual hygiene management.
“This remains a key focus. Girls’ latrines will be constructed in all schools within the project areas, reusable sanitary products will be provided, and PTAs and student ambassadors will be trained to lead peer education on menstrual hygiene,” he revealed.
He reiterated that Phase 2 of the project will continue many of the activities implemented in Phase 1, with the main difference being the introduction of solar-powered water systems.
“While the objectives remain the same as in Phase 1, we are now transitioning from electricity-dependent mechanized systems to solar-powered facilities. This ensures that communities can sustainably manage the water systems without incurring electricity costs,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, a representative from CONIWAS, one of the project’s funding partners, highlighted the role of private donors in making Phase 2 of IPADEV possible.
According to him, the project is funded through a combination of general public contributions, foundations, and business partnerships, ensuring a diverse and sustainable funding base.
He explained that as part of their support, CONIWAS ensures proper reporting and accountability.
“We require detailed updates, including photos, videos, and case studies, so that resources are used effectively and transparently,” he emphasized.
He indicated that this monitoring guarantees the project delivers tangible and meaningful outcomes for communities in the Guan and Wa East districts.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Wa East, Hon. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, who was also present at the launch, commended Plan International Ghana for its consistent investment in community development across the northern part of the country.
According to him, many development interventions in communities across the region have been supported by Plan International over the years.
“I travelled widely across the Sisala belt in the Upper West Region and almost every meaningful development intervention you see in many communities has the footprint of Plan International,” he underscored.
The MP also assured the organisation of his full political support to ensure the project succeeds.
“And so I’m particularly excited about this approach and I want to urge you on. Plan, you’ve done a good thing. We are with you and we will support you by providing the necessary political environment to ensure the impact of this project is amplified in the communities,” he stated.
Hon. Jasaw further appealed to Plan International Ghana to consider expanding the project to include more vulnerable communities within the constituency.
According to him, some nearby communities also face significant challenges with access to safe water and sanitation and would benefit greatly if the intervention could be extended to them.
“We will have to find a way of meeting each other halfway. I am prepared to also support by drilling additional boreholes so that together we can ensure more vulnerable communities benefit from this project,” he remarked.
Concluding the event, Fred Tei-Nobi applauded all speakers, partners, and stakeholders for their contributions and reaffirmed the transformative potential of Phase 2.
“This project targets 14,766 people directly, with ripple effects potentially impacting 50,000 individuals. Together, we can create lasting change and a healthier, more empowered future for the people of the Oti and Upper West Regions,” he said.
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