The limits and impact of communication and context in implementing social interventions in a pandemic: Ghana's free water policy revisited

Abstract

The study examined the implementation of the free water intervention initiated by the government of Ghana during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The study deployed a case study design within the qualitative research method. A total of 22 respondents were interviewed for the study. Findings from the study revealed that the implementation suffered some challenges which mostly stemmed from both the suddenness of the intervention and the complex context of the water sector in Ghana. The abruptness of the intervention resulted in poor communication and little or no consultation between the presidency and the implementer. The other major setback was the withdrawal of services by many tanker drivers from the supply of free water to designated Covid-19 reservoirs due to delays in reimbursement by the government. Furthermore, there was no effective monitoring mechanism to ensure complete adherence to the policy directive by both household vendors and landlords. Generally, the objective of the intervention to provide free water to all was largely ineffective due to the challenges highlighted above.