SWiCH Project Exposes WASH Gaps in Orphanages — A4WA, GWJN Urge Stakeholder Action at MOLE Conference

By Samuel Asamoah

The Alliance for WASH Advocacy (A4WA) and the Ghana WASH Journalists Network (GWJN) have presented the findings of their Sustaining WASH in Children’s Homes (SWiCH) project to members of the Coalition of NGOs in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CONIWAS) at the ongoing MOLE XXXVI Conference, calling for stronger support to address WASH challenges in Ghana’s orphanages.

The presentation, made during the sector’s flagship annual policy dialogue platform at the Marlin Beach Resort, Gomoa Fetteh, highlighted the persistent inequalities in access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene among children in care homes.

Funded by the Roddenberry 1+ Foundation (USA), the SWiCH project assessed 11 orphanages across the Greater Accra, Central, and Eastern Regions. It revealed that while some progress has been made, major gaps remain in infrastructure, financing, and sustainability — posing serious threats to child health and wellbeing.

Findings from the Study

According to the report, 45.5% of the surveyed orphanages rely on boreholes and another 45.5% on pipe-borne water, while one home depends on sachet water. Though 90% of facilities claim their water sources are protected from contamination, irregular supply due to unpaid bills still disrupts access.

The report further found that 72% of toilets are functional, but 27.3% are shared with outsiders, raising hygiene concerns. Handwashing facilities are available in 90% of homes, yet not all have consistent access to soap and clean water.

Waste management systems were generally operational, but sustainability remains uncertain — particularly for institutions that depend on sporadic waste collection or donor-driven repairs.

Funding Remains a Major Setback

On financial sustainability, the study found that only 55% of orphanages have a dedicated WASH budget, with most allocating a mere 0–5% of total funds. Government support was described as “the least dependable,” cited by only 9.1% of facilities. Most homes instead rely heavily on philanthropists, religious bodies, and sporadic donor aid.

Despite these limitations, 90.9% of the orphanages demonstrate strong internal leadership and commitment to maintaining hygiene standards. However, inadequate funding and technical support undermine their ability to sustain WASH systems.

Stakeholders Urged to Act

Presenting the report, A4WA and GWJN called on government agencies — especially the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Department of Social Welfare, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) — to prioritize WASH in institutional care settings.

They appealed to development partners, private sector actors, and philanthropists to adopt orphanages, provide periodic support, and help integrate WASH infrastructure into national child welfare frameworks.

“These children deserve dignity, safety, and a chance to grow in a clean and healthy environment. Safe WASH is not a privilege — it’s their right,” the report stressed.

CONIWAS Commends Study

Participants at the MOLE Conference, which convenes policymakers, civil society groups, and development partners, commended A4WA and GWJN for shedding light on an overlooked segment of the population.

CONIWAS leadership noted that the findings provide credible evidence to guide advocacy, policy formulation, and targeted interventions toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All).

The SWiCH project partners pledged to continue their advocacy through media engagement, policy dialogue, and collaborative initiatives to ensure that every child in an orphanage has access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene.