As Ghana joins the rest of the world to mark World Water Day 2026, a Ghana-based non-governmental organisation, Meaningful Life International (MLI), has called for urgent national and global efforts to address the country’s rural water challenges, particularly the disproportionate burden placed on women and girls.
In a press statement issued ahead of the observance, the organisation noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” accompanied by the campaign slogan “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” highlights the link between access to clean water and gender equality.
According to MLI, access to safe and reliable water remains a significant challenge in many rural communities across Ghana, where women and girls often spend hours each day walking long distances to fetch water. In several cases, the sources available are unsafe, shared with animals, or polluted, including by activities such as illegal mining.
Executive Director of MLI, Dr. Kofi Ahlijah, emphasised that improving water access has far-reaching social and economic benefits.
“When a community gains access to clean water, women regain time, girls return to school, and families thrive. Water is dignity, and dignity must be equal,” he said.
Nearly Two Decades of Community Water Projects
MLI, headquartered in Tema, has spent nearly two decades working to reduce water inequality in underserved communities. Since its establishment in 2006, the organisation says it has drilled more than 80 boreholes across 92 rural communities, helping thousands of households gain access to potable water while reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases.
Beyond infrastructure, MLI indicated that each project includes the formation of community-led water management committees to ensure sustainability, accountability and local ownership of water systems.
The organisation also emphasised that achieving **United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 — which focuses on clean water and sanitation — requires addressing gender disparities that persist in access to water resources.
Call for Partnerships to Expand Water Access
Despite improvements in urban water supply, MLI observed that many rural communities still lag behind, leaving women and girls disproportionately affected as they often sacrifice education and economic opportunities in order to secure water for their families.
As part of activities marking the global day, the organisation announced plans to intensify efforts to expand water access through a proposed 100-borehole initiative. MLI is therefore appealing to corporate organisations, development partners, faith-based groups and media institutions to support the project.
Dr. Ahlijah noted that expanding access to safe water is achievable through collective action.
“No Ghanaian should drink from a pit. This is not just a vision; it is an achievable goal if we act collectively,” he added.
MLI maintains that investing in water infrastructure is also an investment in women’s empowerment, public health, education and national development.
