At the end of the stage 2 process on the 27th of March 2019, 15 of the 17 MMDAs successfully submitted their final implementation reports. These were screened and passed to an independent verification agent to verify the reports and subsequently to a panel of international and local judges for online and live judging to determine the deserving winners.
"Achievement of the Clean Ghana Agenda requires a rigorous multi-faceted approach which employs innovative approaches and initiatives. The Sanitation Challenge program was launched to motivate and trigger competition amongst the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to develop innovative sanitation initiatives. The Ministry appreciates the passion with which the Assemblies responded with enthusiasm. This yielded innovative ideas and progress on this effort - I entreat all awardees to utilize this award especially the cash component wholly to improve sanitation in your respective Assemblies" said Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Ghana’s Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, the host of the event.
The winners are split across two categories, metropolitan and Municipal Assembly (MMA) category and District Assembly (DA) category. The MMA category registered first to third winners and the DA registered first and second winners only. Four honorary prizes were also awarded, two in each category for initiatives that distinguished themselves for excellence across leadership, sustainability, technology, inclusion and governance.
The Dignified City Award Winners
Metro and municipal category
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly - 1st winner, £400,000 for innovative partnership with the private sector, Aquaculture skilled and knowledgeable staff with strong support and leadership commitment from Mayor. Outstanding commitment to all parts of the sanitation value chain
Effutu Municipal Assembly – 2nd winner, £225,000 for innovative partnership with the private sector and other parts of the Government of Ghana institutions including local prison service who are using biogas. Demonstrated a highly committed management team
Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly – 3rd winner, £125,000 for innovative public engagement and a highly committed Assembly
District Assembly Category
Nunumba North District Assembly – 1st winner, £285,000 for bi-partisanship leadership commitment from both past and present chief executives, innovative private partnership, especially sanitation for peace.
Kwahu East District Assembly – 2nd winner, £150,000 for innovative commitment to the sanitation value chain. Strong leadership commitment from chief as the presiding member.
Special Prizes (MMDAs)
Kassena Nankana Municipal Assembly, MMA Special Prize, £25,000 for dedicated leadership commitment
Savelugu Municipal Assembly – MMA Special Prize, £25,000 for great demonstration of disability inclusion
Offinso North District Assembly – DA Special Prize, £25,000 for strong financial commitment
Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Assembly – DA Special Prize, £25,000 for strong community engagement
Honorary prizes
Ahanta West Municipal Assembly, Jasikan District Assembly, Mampong Municipal Assembly, Atiwa East District Assembly, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Pru East District Assembly - Each received recognition plaques and certificate of appreciation for being a finalist.
"Winning the ultimate prize of £400,000.00 for implementing innovative sanitation interventions has really humbled us and challenges us to sustain the efforts invested so far. Indeed, the competition has compelled us to think outside the box in designing and implementing sanitation interventions. Through the challenge, we've come to the realization that achieving SDG 6 calls for strong collaboration between the MMDAs, the Private Partners and the traditional and religious leaders in our communities. We've also come to realize that strong political leadership is required to bring the needed change in Sanitation" said Osei Assibey Antwi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly - 1st winner for the Metro & Municipal Category.
About the Sanitation Challenge for Ghana and the final event
The Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh) was launched in Ghana on 19th November 2015 as a component of the Ideas to Impact Global Initiative to stimulate competition among Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and to encourage inclusive partnership for the design and implementation of liquid waste management (LWM) strategies. It aims at bringing transformational changes to city-wide sanitation service delivery.
The SC4Gh Prize for MMDAs was in two stages - the design of MMDA liquid waste management strategies constituted the first stage and the second stage (dignified city award), the implementation of the strategies. Following several support interventions, over 127 MMDAs responded positively to the call for action and registered their intentions to participate in the competition. At the end of stage 1 process on 30 April 2016, 48 MMDAs successfully submitted their strategies for adjudication. Twenty One of the 48 MMDAs excelled and were duly recognized with honorary prizes with 3 winning a total of 75,000 GBP monetary awards. All 21 MMDA were invited to express interest to participate in the implementation of their winning strategies; and 17 of the 21 MMDAs met the minimum condition and were considered for stage 2. At the end of the stage 2 process on the 27th of March 2019, 15 of the 17 MMDAs successfully submitted their final implementation reports for end line verification and judging.
The final award event brought together Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, competing MMDAs, private sector partners and non-state actors, development partners, traditional leaders, sector practitioners, the media and members of parliament to, i) recognise and appreciate successful MMDAs and private sector partners and non-state actors who contested in the SC4Gh and urge them to continue implementation beyond the event; ii) showcase the achievements of the MMDAs and private partners in the management of urban liquid waste using innovative technologies, partnerships and financing models.
Media Contact details IRC Ghana
Abubakari Wumbei
Communication Learning & Advocacy Coordinator
wumbei@ircwash.org/ support@sanitationchallenge4ghana.net