Ghana is making strides in developing a sustainable safe water enterprise model, with the potential to attract investment and scale services nationwide.
The 2026 Beyond the Pipe Forum, held in Accra, brought together stakeholders to explore ways to transition Safe Water Enterprises (SWEs) from pilot initiatives to investment-ready models.
The forum, themed “From Ideas to Pilots: Preparing Safe Water Enterprises for Investment,” highlighted progress in piloting innovations in water safety, remote monitoring, and leak detection. However, experts emphasized the need for stronger public-private sector coordination, improved market intelligence, and access to financing to support enterprise growth.
Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with private sector actors. “As we work to achieve universal access to safe water, it is essential that we create the right conditions for private sector participation,” he said.
Safe Water Network Ghana Country Director Charles Nimako emphasized the importance of learning from pilot implementation. “We are seeing a clear shift from innovation to practical application,” he said. “The lessons emerging from these pilots are helping us better understand what it takes to run efficient, reliable water services, and what is needed to prepare these enterprises for investment.”
The forum also highlighted new financing opportunities, including the extension of Aqua for All’s Making Water Count programme through 2029. Safe Water Network Chief Executive Officer Chris Williams underscored the importance of building an investable ecosystem. “The next phase of this work is about building strong, coordinated markets where enterprises can thrive,” he said.
The event brought together policymakers, service providers, Safe Water Enterprises, investors, and development partners to strengthen collaboration and identify practical steps toward building a more coordinated and investment-ready water sector.
