Few people would expect a planning process developed in a single district to influence how local governments across a country think about water and sanitation. Yet that is exactly what has happened in Ghana. What began as a local effort in Asutifi North District to achieve universal access to services is now informing planning processes, learning programmes and policy discussions far beyond the Ahafo Region.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
HOW WE WORKED
District authorities in Asutifi North were expected to deliver results without a clear picture of what was working, where gaps remained, or how different organisations could combine their efforts. As Jeremiah Atengdem, who has spent years working alongside district authorities in Ghana, puts it: "Most district leaders are asked to deliver results without a clear view of what's working and what isn't."
Jeremiah and his colleagues worked alongside district leaders, traditional authorities, communities and development partners for years, building relationships, generating evidence and aligning priorities behind a shared vision.
Assessing what it would take to reach universal access by 2030, district leaders realised isolated projects would not get them there – lasting progress would need coordinated action across the whole system. That understanding led to the Asutifi North Ahonidie Mpontuo (ANAM) initiative, bringing district authorities, traditional leaders, communities and development partners behind a single long-term vision.
For local leaders, this was a chance to take ownership of a shared agenda and define what success would look like for their district. Over time, relationships strengthened, new partners joined and confidence grew that the ambitious targets were in reach.
WHAT CHANGED
The district gained a shared roadmap that helped leaders understand the scale of the challenge, identify funding needs, coordinate investment and track progress. The District Assembly took a stronger leadership role, investment increased and new partners aligned their efforts behind a common vision.
Most importantly, better planning began to translate into practical improvements: faster progress in reaching communities without reliable water services and improving sanitation in schools, health facilities and households.
Other districts took notice. The approach has since expanded across all municipalities and districts in the Ahafo Region and is helping guide planning for reaching more than 550,000 people with water and sanitation services.
Its influence has also extended nationally. Lessons from Asutifi North have informed National Development Planning Commission tools, training programmes and planning guidance, ensuring that learning from local government experience contributes to wider policy processes.
As Hon. Pius Sampson Opoku, Municipal Chief Executive for Tano North, put it: "We must influence our peers. What works in one district can inspire others."
WHAT'S NEXT
The difficult work is still ahead: financing gaps, unequal service levels and the challenge of sustaining progress over the long term. But Ahafo has shown what can happen when local leaders have the evidence, partnerships and authority needed to act.
The next challenge is whether Ghana can embed these lessons widely enough that strong local planning and collective action becomes the norm rather than the exception, helping more communities gain reliable access to the services they need.
Is your district trying to turn fragmented planning into coordinated action? Start a conversation.