COVID-19 and water access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana’s free water directive may not benefit water insecure households
Sarah L. Smiley, Benjamin D. Agbemor, Ellis Adjei Adams, Raymond Asare Tutu
Abstract
COVID-19 has brought global attention to the critical role of water in managing infectious outbreaks. Although Sub-Saharan Africa could become a COVID-19 hotspot, some are optimistic that given the right strategies and interventions the region can contain the pandemic. One such interventions is Ghana's directive to provide free water to domestic users for six months to ensure that water insecure households do not compromise appropriate hygiene and sanitation during COVID-19. We highlight in this commentary how the complex geographies of water provision in the region could undermine the overall benefits of such initiatives, especially to poor and water insecure households.