Two ministers are set to join a high-level global delegation at the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting
Two Ghanaian cabinet ministers are set to join a high-level global delegation at the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) in Madrid, Spain, on October 22–23, to address the urgent need for integrating water, sanitation, and climate action into national policies.
Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, and Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, will be among government ministers from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and other regions attending the SWA ministerial meeting.
The 2025 SMM, co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF, and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, will gather ministers of water, sanitation, environment, climate, and finance from over 60 countries.
Its theme, “Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Climate Action,” emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in strengthening climate resilience and protecting communities worldwide.
From Compact to Action: Ghana Accelerates WASH Goals
Ghana’s inclusion of both the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources underscores the country’s recognition of water and sanitation as a multi-sector issue.
The involvement of the Chieftaincy Ministry is particularly significant, highlighting the essential role of traditional leaders in promoting sanitation practices and influencing behavioral change at the community level.
In his remarks at the World Water Week in August, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei emphasized the far-reaching effects of inadequate WASH services, noting that “the absence of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services fuels preventable diseases, keeps children (especially girls) out of school, undermines gender equality, and erodes climate resilience.”
The government aims to build on the Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), signed by Ghana’s former president in August 2024. The Compact seeks to enhance public health, boost climate resilience, and ensure access to WASH services, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
With the relaunch of Ghana National Sanitation Day in September 2025, the allocation of 80% of the District Assemblies Common Fund toward sanitation, and the implementation of the Ghana WASH Compact framework, Ghana continues to advance toward clear and measurable goals.
These include achieving universal access to safe water by 2030, drastically reducing open defecation, and ensuring adequate WASH services in all schools and health facilities.
SMM 2025: Expected Outcomes and Ghana’s Priorities
At the 2025 SMM in Madrid, one of the main priorities will be developing strategies to mobilize domestic resources, attract private sector investment, and increase access to climate financing.
According to UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, “the SWA ministerial meetings serve as a crucial avenue for global leaders to monitor progress and mobilize innovative access to clean water and sanitation.”
The key outcome of the 2025 SMM is expected to be the High-Level Leaders’ Compact on Water Security and Resilience — a political declaration aimed at aligning water, sanitation, and climate action across nations.
The Compact will mark a major milestone, linking Heads of State Initiatives to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for water and sanitation. It will also inform key discussions at COP30 in Brazil (November 2025) and the UN 2026 Water Conference, providing an African perspective to shape a global framework for joint action.
Acting CEO of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), Muyatwa Sitali, emphasized the importance of political commitment, saying: “African governments have shown that when political will meets partnership, results follow. The SMM is where global commitments meet local realities — and Africa’s leadership will be critical to achieving lasting change.”
The participation of Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei and Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim is therefore crucial. Both ministers are expected to showcase Ghana’s progress in building a transparent and accountable national WASH framework, while rallying global support for President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of linking strong political leadership with financial integrity in the water and sanitation sector.
About Sanitation and Water for All (SWA)
For 15 years, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership — hosted by UNICEF — has united governments, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to advance the human rights to water and sanitation for all.
With more than 500 partners worldwide, SWA drives political commitment, strengthens institutions, and promotes accountability to achieve lasting progress in water and sanitation globally.
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