Football for Water in Ghana: A Completed Legacy

The four-year Football for Water project successfully targeted 420 schools, reaching approximately 157,500 children with access to water and sanitation facilities, hygiene and sanitation education, improved life skills, and enhanced sports infrastructure. Community outreach campaigns were conducted through football and hygiene club activities, spreading the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) message to an estimated 756,000 family members.

The schools were located across both rural and urban areas in the Northern, Upper West, Ashanti, Western, Central, and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana.

Long Lasting Behavior Change Through Football

At the time, Ghana faced significant challenges in accessing clean drinking water, particularly in the Northern Region, where water-borne diseases were commonly reported. The Football for Water initiative in schools aimed to instill long-lasting positive behavioral change by harnessing the captivating power of football.

The project fulfilled every child’s right to water, sanitation, and hygiene, with far-reaching effects on their health and overall well-being. As a football-loving nation, Ghana embraced the WASH message when it was delivered through beloved role models and engaging sports activities. By leveraging football’s influence, the project succeeded in promoting improved sanitation and hygiene practices across communities.

Local Partners

Unicef Ghana

New Energy (and its partners)

Ghana Urban Water Company

Professional Footballers Association of Ghana

Key Government Agencies