Decentralised strategy setting and action planning for environmental sanitation in Ghana

This paper shares the experience in the preparatory activities carried out for the preparation of a National Environmental Sanitation Strategy and Action Plan for Ghana. The procedures and framework for preparing the comprehensive strategy and action plan are described including national, regional and district-level management and quality assurance of the process. This initiative is different from the usual sanitation limited to “hygienic disposal of human excreta” as the strategies and related action planning elements cover all aspects of environmental sanitation including solid waste, human excreta, sullage conveyance and drainage, environmental sanitation education and enforcement management. An important proposition of exercise is that where effective collaboration, sharing and peering can be forged amongst sector institutions and coordinated well it is possible to bring diverse expertise at national level to tackle each and every issue of environmental sanitation adequately.