Through its Integrated Pack­age for Sustainable Development (I-PADEV) project, the organi­sation has tackled long-standing issues of poor sanitation, lack of potable water, and low school enrolment, significantly trans­forming lives in the beneficiary communities.

As a result of these interven­tions, 16 communities have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). In the Jasikan Municipal­ity, these include Asele, Lekanti, Nanankor, Udey, Atwereboana, Atonkor, Akaa, Koensim, Ketsi Nkwanta, and Dzoku. In the West Mamprusi Municipality, the ODF communities are Boayini 1 and 2, Kpabugu, Zanguga, and Sagadugu 1 and 2.

Speaking to journalists on Fri­day at Koensim, the headmaster of Koensim M/A Primary and Junior High School, Mr Benoni Nyasorgbor, disclosed that before the intervention, the school lacked proper sanitation facilities, forcing students to relieve themselves in nearby bushes.

This, he said, posed significant health risks, particularly for girls, who frequently missed school due to the absence of changing rooms during menstruation.

Another major challenge he mentioned was access to clean water. Students had to walk long distanc­es to fetch water from a stream, leading to exhaus­tion and lateness.

To address these issues, he stated that Plan Interna­tional Ghana constructed gender-friendly latrines with sep­arate sections for boys and girls, as well as a dedicated changing room for menstruating students. The organisation also provided a borehole to supply potable water to the school and the wider com­munity, significantly improving hygiene and reducing absenteeism.

“With these improvements, school enrollment has surged from 79 to 224 students in just two years,” Mr Nyasorgbor stated.

“Beyond sanitation and water access, Plan International Ghana has also provided essential learn­ing materials to support teachers and students,” he added.

“With the introduction of the new curriculum, we lacked text­books. Teachers had to travel to town to download materials due to poor network access. Thanks to Plan International Ghana, we now have textbooks, making teaching and learning much easier,” he stated.

These interventions, he indicated, have contributed to improved academic performance. The school’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) pass rate has increased from 70 per cent in 2023 to 90 per cent in 2024.

After a field visit to beneficiary communities, WASH Specialist and Manager of the IPADEV project, Mr William Domapielle, highlighted the organisation’s ef­forts to improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions across 20 communities in Jasikan Municipality and Northern Gha­na.

Using a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, he explained that the project encour­ages households to build and use latrines. Additionally, high-yielding boreholes have been mechanised to supply water to multiple loca­tions, including schools, reduc­ing the burden on women and children.

“The project also promotes gender equity by engaging male heads of households to share unpaid care work, allowing women greater participation in community activities and decision-making,” he explained.

With the three-year IPADEV project set to conclude in January 2026, Mr Domapielle urged the government to increase invest­ments in WASH infrastructure to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on clean water and sanitation by 2030.