Private sector participation in the management of water supply systems in small settlements in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions

Abstract

This study examined private sector participation in the management of water supply systems in seven small settlements in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. The seven water supply systems selected were located in the following towns, Bekwai, Ejura and Kuntenase all in the Ashanti region and Nkoranza, Atebubu, Duayaw Nkwanta, and Nante in the Brong Ahafo region. The objective of the study is to examine the participation of private sector in the management of small town water supply systems; determine the various types of management models in the management of small town water supply systems; examine the arguments for and against the involvement of private sector involvement in the management of the systems; and undertake SWOT analyses of stakeholders in the management of small town water supply systems. The selection of water supply systems was done using purposive sampling, considering the number of systems that are operational in these regions The main findings of the study include, the identification of four major management models in small town water supply systems; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of various stakeholders in the management of small town water supply systems; various types of private sector and their levels of involvement in small town water supply systems and the merits and demerits of the private sector in the management of small towns water supply systems. It is recommended that, effective supervisory role is played by public sector agency over the activities of private sector in the management of small town water systems to ensure good performance of the systems.