The WASHCost Ghana Project conducted a training workshop on the Life-Cycle Cost Approach (LCCA) in March and April 2012 for three districts in three regions. The training workshop was aimed at equipping participants, especially District Water and Sanitation Teams, the District Planning and Budgeting officers and District Directors or their deputies to be able to use the LCCA in their budgeting to ensure sustainable WASH service in their districts.
Published on: 25/07/2012
Participants were drawn from the Dormaa East, Berekum and Sunyani West District Assemblies for the Brong Ahafo Region; Keta Municipal Assembly, Akatsi District, Ketu South District Assembly in the Volta Region; and East Gonja, Yendi Municipality and Savalugu Nantong Districts in the Northern Region. Each district was represented by three people from the categories mentioned above. Also included were selected staff from the respective regional offices of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). In the Volta region, three people were interviewed; one each from a district, to find their expectation and expected utilization of LCCA training to them. Mr. Mensah Peter Garkpey is the Municipal Planning Officer for the Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region. His expectation of the LCCA workshop is to be able to properly set WASH tariffs with social implications to cost and how to maintain the facilities to ensure sustainability of service delivery. He believes the breakdown of the cost components which was introduce is a good indication to help them in costing for facilities and services to help in post construction activities. He said with the knowledge acquired, he (and his colleagues) will be able to impress upon the management of the facilities to set aside funds to manage the post construction activities.
Mr. Reuben Kornu, head of the District Water and Sanitation team in Ketu South District Assembly. Hopes to acquire new ideas on how to cost water and sanitation facilities in the district at the end of the LCCA training. Has come to understand that it is not enough to only construct the facilities but the maintenance and sustainability aspect of the service is more important so the maintenance of the facilities should also be taken into consideration at the planning stage.
Mr. Seth Kwame Damasah, is the Head, District Water and Sanitation Team (DWST) at the Akatsi District Assembly. He expects the LCCA training to equip with the knowledge to be able use the LCCA concept to properly cost WASH services in his district. Mr Damasah says he has realized the need to cost for post construction activities to sustain service delivery. Mr. Damasah says he will inculcate all aspects of LCCA components into future budgets. He suggests targeting District Coordinating Directors in subsequent LCCA training as they are the spending officers for the district.
Compiled by:
Victor Narteh Otum
Documentation and Communications Officer
IRC Ghana
July 24, 2012
