Ghana Loses GHS6.2bn Annually to Poor Sanitation – ISSER Study

Ghana loses more than GHS6.2 billion each year due to diseases associated with poor waste management and sanitation, a new study by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has revealed.

The findings were presented at a stakeholder forum in Accra on Thursday, February 26, 2026, bringing together policymakers, Members of Parliament, local government officials, development partners and private sector representatives to examine the economic justification for increased sanitation investment.

The research, conducted by Prof. Peter Quartey and Dr. Kwame Adjei-Mantey at the University of Ghana, analysed the social and economic costs of current sanitation practices and assessed the potential returns from improved financing.

According to the report, five major diseases linked to poor sanitation  malaria, cholera, pneumonia, typhoid fever and diarrhoea contribute to approximately 31.9 million lost workdays annually and an estimated 177,222 deaths. Direct healthcare costs were estimated at GHS5.8 billion each year, with an additional GHS650 million lost due to reduced productivity, pushing the total annual burden beyond GHS6.2 billion.

Despite these heavy losses, Ghana’s average spending on waste management stands at about GHS38 per tonne of waste generated  a figure researchers described as insufficient compared to the scale of health and economic damage.

Using cost-benefit analysis, the study found that under the current approach, every GHS1 invested in waste management yields roughly GHS180 in economic returns. Under an enhanced investment scenario  where spending rises to around GHS1,028 per tonne, consistent with lower-middle-income benchmarks returns could increase to GHS556 per GHS1 invested.

Overall, projected national benefits under this improved scenario could reach GHS58 billion in 2025 and climb to GHS67.2 billion by 2032, largely driven by reductions in disease cases, deaths and productivity losses.

Presenting the findings, Prof. Quartey urged government to reframe sanitation as a high-yield development investment rather than a residual budget item, stressing its potential to safeguard public health and boost economic growth.

During discussions, participants questioned the proportion of disease cases directly attributable to waste exposure. The researchers explained that their model drew on global health data and assumed that approximately 45 percent of selected disease cases were linked to waste-related factors, with sensitivity analyses conducted to test alternative scenarios.

Concerns were also raised about the practicality of the enhanced investment model, particularly in slum and rural areas where waste collection remains inconsistent. Prof. Quartey acknowledged these challenges, noting that flexible and decentralized collection systems may be more effective than a uniform nationwide approach.

Stakeholders further debated institutional coordination, with some proposing the creation of a National Sanitation Authority, while others advocated strengthening existing structures instead of expanding bureaucracy.

The study concluded that Ghana’s sanitation-related losses significantly outweigh current expenditure levels and called for sustained investment, targeted interventions in high-risk communities, and stronger budgeting and data systems within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to elevate sanitation as a central pillar of national development.