ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC END-USERS WILLINGNESS TO PAY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF URBAN WATER SUPPLY IN WA, GHANA

Abstract

Domestic end-users' participation in urban water issues is essential to achieving improved urban water delivery system that meet the needs of all urban dwellers in Ghana. This study examined how domestic end-users could effectively participate in managing urban water; the realistic economic price domestic end-users are willing to pay for an improved water from GWCL and its influencing factors; and the level of end-users' perception on the quality of service provided by GWCL. Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) with Questionnaires and Key informant interviews were used to collect data from a sampled 379 households and 2 key informants. Ordered probit, Kendall's and Servqual models were the main analytical techniques used. The findings showed low levels of participation of domestic end-users in urban water management with GWCL limited trust in end-users' capacity to make meaningful decisions or inputs as the highest ranked challenge accounting for this. Assigning specific roles to end-users; formation of urban zonal water management committees; transparency in the management process; and privatization of GWCL etc. were the various ways that end-users level of participation could be enhanced. Despite the low levels of involvement, domestic end-users with in-house connections were ready to pay GHS60.4 which is about 1.5 times higher than the average amount (GHS41) endusers currently pay while households with Stand Pipes (SP) were willing to pay (GHSO.27) less than what they currently pay. Household size, dependency ratio, marital status, social status, participation, subsidies, number of hours' water flows, regular flow of water, corruption perception, service quality and safety of main source were all found to be significant in determining in-house connections WTP while education, income, hours spent at home, household size, religion, hours water flow, participation and service quality were also found to be significant drivers for domestic end-users with standpipes WTP. The perceived service quality gap was -2.56 which is highly unsatisfactory. There is thus, a strong relationship between users WTP and level of participation and perception on service quality. These findings have implications for the realisation of the Ghana National Water Policy goals and in solving the many challenges of GWCL since the domestic end-user is ready to pay more for the services they receive. The study therefore recommends GWCL streamlining its operations, payment of new connection fees on instalments etc. as possible mechanisms for ensuring improve water services.