Drinking water security in rural Ghana: the implications of community experiences for policy
Date
2021
Authors
Dosu, Benjamin
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Geography and Environment
Abstract
Notwithstanding its rise in use, the term water security lacks a consensus of how it is conceptualized and applied in different contexts and disciplines. Drawing on a conceptual framework that involves a plethora of several dimensions, this study examines how water security is conceptualized and applied in rural Ghana. Using mixed methods, this study assesses households' water security experiences in three rural communities. The analysis of cross-sectional data provides a deeper understanding of the importance of these dimensions in defining rural water security. On this basis, the dissertation makes two interrelated arguments. The first is that rural dwellers suffer from biases that make them vulnerable to water insecurity. Second, despite the general effects of water insecurity on rural households, women, girls, and people with physical disabilities constitute the most marginalized population in the communities. The dissertation concludes with the need to adopt welfare approaches to enhance rural water security.
Description
Keywords
rural Ghana , water management , water security , water policy , Water security -- Ghana -- Management , Water-supply, Rural -- Ghana -- Management , Drinking water -- Ghana , Marginality, Social -- Ghana , Rural women -- Ghana -- Social conditions , Rural girls -- Ghana -- Social conditions , People with disabilities -- Ghana -- Social conditions , Ghana -- Politics and government , Dissertations, Academic