PURC hosts review of regulatory frameworks for rural water supply, sanitation

On April 8, 2025, Dr. Shafic Suleman opened a conference on rural water supply. The event took place at the Best Western Plus Accra Beach Hotel. Participants from various African countries attended from April 8-10, 2025.

Dr. Suleman expressed his honor in hosting experts and stakeholders. He welcomed colleagues from organizations like ESAWAS and AFUR. They all share a commitment to improving rural water services.

He emphasized that access to safe water is a human right. It is also vital for socio-economic development. Key strategies include increasing investment and promoting innovation in the sector.

Dr. Suleman highlighted Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6). Currently, 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. Additionally, 703 million people do not have basic water services.

He noted that 3.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services. This includes 1.5 billion without basic sanitation facilities. Furthermore, two billion lack basic handwashing facilities.

In Africa, there has been progress in accessing drinking water services. However, disparities remain between rural and urban areas. Three in five Africans still lack safely managed drinking water.

Dr. Suleman pointed out challenges faced by rural water systems in Ghana and Africa. These include financing issues and service reliability concerns. Despite improvements in national coverage, gaps persist in rural areas.

The workshop showcased the power of collaboration among diverse experts from multiple countries. Dr. Suleman stressed the need for innovative regulatory approaches to enhance oversight and community engagement.

In closing remarks, he encouraged evaluating existing regulatory tools for improvement. The goal is to ensure affordable and sustainable water services for rural communities across Africa.

Participants came from Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Germany, Ethiopia, the UK, Burundi, Malawi, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zanzibar.