Cultural Challenges Affecting Effective Community Participation in Potable Water Management in Selected Rural Communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana

The study aimed to identify challenges hindering community participation in potable water management in specific communities in the Wa West District of Ghana. A qualitative approach and a case study design were employed for the research. The qualitative approach and the case study design were employed to gain in-depth insights into the challenges affecting effective community participation in potable water management in the Gbaalwob, Chogsia, and Gadi, communities in the Wa West District in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The population included twenty residents each from the three communities, namely; Gbaalwob, Chogsia, and Gadi. Also, three key officials from the district assembly and three opinion leaders each from the Gbaalwob, Chogsia, and Gadi communities were sampled for the study. In all the sample size of the study was seventy-two participants. A purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting the participants for the study. A semi-structured interview guide and a focus group discussion checklist were employed in the data collection. Data was analysed thematically. Emerged themes from the interviews and the focus group discussion were analysed based on the themes from the data collection. It was revealed that inadequate finance is a foremost impediment to effective community participation in water management in the district. As a result, people are unable to make regular contributions to maintenance services of boreholes when they break down. It was therefore suggested that there should be the provision of credit facilities to households who are deprived to be able to diversify their livelihood to enhance them to effectively contribute monthly towards the borehole’s maintenance in their various communities.