Gov’t secures €323m to end water crisis in Tamale, Yendi, Damongo
The government has secured a total of €323 million financing package for the Northern Ghana Water and Sanitation Project to address persistent water shortages in Tamale, Yendi and Damongo.
The project is expected to benefit nearly 1.5 million people people, providing safe drinking water, improving sanitation, public health, and supporting climate resilience for the beneficiary communities.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson announced the package on the margins of the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Band Group (WBG) annual meetings in Bangkok.
The development emerged from a high-level meeting with European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, which focused on finalising the terms for the Northern Ghana Water and Sanitation Project.
The financing comprise a €225 million highly concessional facility from the EIB, a €68m grant from the European Commission, and a €30m grant from the Dutch government’s Invest International initiative.
“I have just concluded a productive meeting with European Investment Bank Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle on the financing package for the Northern Ghana Water and Sanitation Project,” he said.
The Finance Minister expressed optimism that the project would address the recurring water shortages and improve sanitation across the three communities in the two Northern regions and the Savannah region.
Information provided by the European Investment Bank indicates that the project would improve access to safely managed drinking water services for approximately 1.349m people in the Greater Tamale area.
The Bank noted that some 105,000 people in Damongo, covering urban and peri-urban populations were to also benefit from the project.
Prior to the project financing conclusion, a baseline water quality assessment exercise was conducted in January 2026 to establish the existing condition of the White Volta River passing through Yapei to its natural source for use.
It was observed that the White Volta River exhibited typical freshwater physicochemical characteristics, with neutral pH values ranging from 7.34 to 7.63, low conductivity, and low total dissolved solids, all within applicable national and WHO guideline limits.
However, key physical parameters such as turbidity (28.7–30.3 NTU), apparent colour (60–65 Hz), and total suspended solids (28–30 mg/L) exceeded the GS 175:2017 drinking water guideline values at all sampling locations (upstream, intake, and downstream).
The baseline study approved the White Volta River as a sustainable source for the project, urging conventional treatment.
This includes coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, iron removal and disinfection to ensure safe drinking water.
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