Climate and Environment

[Special Report] The Struggle for Water Justice in Africa, Communities Push Back Against Privatisation

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By Bunmi Yekini

As the African continent faces mounting water crises, the ongoing debate around water privatisation takes centre stage this week, with activists and community leaders demanding accountability from governments and international organisations. Monday, 21st October, marked the launch of the fourth annual Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation, a campaign spearheaded by the Our Water, Our Right African Coalition (OWORAC). This movement, which unites civil society, trade unionists, and community leaders from nearly a dozen African countries, is fighting against the rising influence of corporate interests in the management of public water services.

At the heart of the campaign is a call for “Water Justice Over Profit,” underscoring widespread frustrations over how governments have increasingly favoured corporate interests, to the detriment of public welfare. As protests against rising costs of living sweep across many African nations, the coalition aims to expose how water privatisation schemes, promoted by multinational corporations and backed by international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), undermine the basic human right to water.

Privatisation Push and Corporate Control

“The privatisation and corporate control of water services is an affront to the human right to water,” stated Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa. “It is an inexcusable abdication of duty by our governments.”

For decades, the World Bank and IMF have exerted significant influence over the economic policies of African states. These institutions have pushed privatisation, often as a condition for loans or debt relief, despite mounting evidence of its failures. In Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, for instance, water privatisation schemes have been linked to poor service delivery, skyrocketing costs, and deteriorating infrastructure, sparking public outcry.

Nigeria: A Battle for Lagos’ Water

In Nigeria, international agencies such as USAID and WaterAid have promoted water privatisation schemes, particularly targeting Lagos, the country’s economic hub. These efforts have been met with fierce resistance from local unions, with hundreds of unionised workers losing their jobs in recent times as the city moves toward privatisation. The privatisation drive in Lagos, often presented as a public-private partnership (PPP), has drawn sharp criticism for serving corporate profits rather than the needs of local communities.

The consequences are severe: rising water tariffs, job losses, and crumbling infrastructure threaten to leave millions of Nigerians without access to clean water. Despite these issues, multinational corporations, including French companies Veolia and Suez, continue to push for greater control of water services in Lagos, prompting fears that the privatisation of the city’s water could become irreversible.

Ghana: Environmental and Public Health in Jeopardy

The situation is similarly dire in Ghana, where reckless mining activities, known locally as galamsey, have led to the contamination of local rivers and water bodies. Environmental experts warn of widespread pollution, with heavy metals such as mercury and cyanide found in water supplies. Fishermen and farmers are losing their livelihoods as pollution threatens the viability of rivers and crops.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), responsible for providing treated water, is struggling to keep pace with the rising levels of contamination, even as the government remains slow to act. Critics argue that the country’s leadership has turned a blind eye to the health crisis unfolding as a result of corporate negligence, putting entire communities at risk of drought, disease, and long-term environmental degradation.

Senegal: Suez Profits, Communities Suffer

In Senegal, French water giant Suez has taken over the country’s water management through a PPP, leading to rising water bills and deteriorating service under the company’s subsidiary, Sen’Eau. A state audit of the arrangement revealed widespread corruption, with Suez accused of “looting” Senegal’s water resources. Workers have been vocal in their opposition to the company’s practices, decrying poor working conditions and unfair treatment.

Sen’Eau has responded by cracking down on unionists and trade workers who have called for more equitable water distribution and public ownership of water services. The government’s failure to intervene in this corporate exploitation is yet another reminder of how privatisation enriches foreign companies at the expense of local communities.

Regional Trends and Resistance

Across Africa, the fight against water privatisation is a growing trend. In Kenya, newly enacted water laws pave the way for more privatisation, despite the threat of unaffordable services. Mozambique is also on the brink of a national utility privatisation that could affect communities in all corners of the country. Meanwhile, Cameroon and Gabon have successfully expelled privatisers, though the threat of corporate control still looms.

As privatisation schemes continue to advance, African governments must weigh the mounting evidence that these corporate-driven models are not only unsustainable but also deeply harmful to the public. OWORAC’s efforts during this week of action aim to make clear that water justice can only be achieved through a commitment to public water management that prioritises human rights over profit.

A Call to Action

Through media sensitisation, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilisation, OWORAC is amplifying calls for public accountability and pushing back against the growing corporatisation of Africa’s water resources. The coalition demands an end to corporate acts of impunity, urging governments to restore control of essential services to the public and ensure that water is treated as a right, not a commodity.

As the week progresses, one thing is clear: the battle for Africa’s water is not only a fight for basic human rights, but also a crucial front in the continent’s broader struggle for social justice. The question remains, will African governments listen?

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