Spatial variations in access to sanitation across Tema, Ghana

Abstract

Inequitable access to sanitation remains a major barrier to sustainable urban development, as sanitation services are central to public health, environmental quality and economic well-being. By integrating environmental, infrastructural, and household-level indicators, the study moves beyond narrow assessments of sanitation access This study examines spatial variations in access to sanitation across Tema in Ghana, focusing on communities 3, 12 and Newtown. Conceived as Ghana’s first planned city after independence and initially connected to a unified sanitation grid, Tema now faces significant infrastructure strain as rapid urbanization, population growth and chronic municipal funding limitations have transformed its sanitation landscape. Using a multi-methods approach that integrates biophysical and urban data in the ArcGIS software, access to sanitation across Tema was mapped via a multi-criteria analysis approach, and the results were explained using qualitative data. Findings reveal significant infrastructural gaps between the legacy planned system and newer residential developments, many of which remain unconnected to the formal sanitation grid. Intra-urban disparities in sanitation provision are apparent in all residential areas with communities inhabited by more affluent residents typically receiving better-quality services, more reliable infrastructure, and greater municipal attention than low-income and marginalized neighbourhoods. The study underscores the need to align sanitation planning with biophysical and urbanization realities.