The Upper West Region was the first region to commence the CWSA reform programme by incrementally participating in the management of Small Towns Piped Water Supply Systems (STPWSSs). The Region piloted it reform programme on Lawra, Nandom, Tumu, Jirapa and Gwollu Water Systems in July 2017. Following the success of the pilot programme, the region scaled up its direct management to cover eleven (11) additional STPWSSs namely, Kpongu, Busa, Manwe, Goripie, Wechiau, Kaleo, Nadowli, Daffiama, Lambussie, Hamile-Happa and Funsi Water Systems.

The staff strength of the region has increased from 25 staff prior to the reforms in 2017 to 130 staff in 2020 after the Reform. The human resource of the Agency at the Regional Office comprises of the Regional Director, Engineers, Accountants, Extension Services Specialists, Information Technology Specialist, Administrative Officer, Water Safety Officer, Drivers and Security Personnel. Through the Agency’s reform programme, the staff strength of the region has been enhanced with other experts such as Water System Managers, Community Relations Officers, Water System Engineers and/or Technician Engineers, Accountants and Revenue Officers with support from auxiliary staff such as plumbers, meter readers, labourers, security guards etc. The major reform intervention such as rehabilitation of Small Town Piped Water Systems, water quality monitoring, recruitment and enhancement of human capacity of staff, establishment of robust financial and data management systems, good customer relations has resonated into an improvement in the provision of adequate, safe, reliable, accessible and affordable water services in the region.

The Agency continues to collaborate with the Municipal/District Assemblies in the region to facilitate the provision of boreholes and sanitation and hygiene services to small towns and rural communities. These other WASH services mainly exist in the form of construction of institutional latrines, facilitation and support for household latrines, promotion of household water treatment and safe storage and hand washing with soap. The hygiene promotion activities are done through Community Total Sanitation (CLTS) and other participatory processes.