Relationship between freshwater scarcity, rural livelihoods and coping strategies in Jirapa Municipality, Ghana

Rural households increasingly rely on surface and groundwater resources, placing pressure on both the quantity and quality of the limited freshwater in Northern Ghana. This study examines the relationship between freshwater scarcity and rural livelihoods, and analyse the coping strategies of households in Jirapa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Underpinned by pragmatism, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach to collect data from 172 respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square tests, and Likert-scale mean score analysis, while qualitative data were analysed using descriptive narratives to contextualise household experiences and adaptive responses. The findings show that 54.6% of households depend on boreholes as their primary source of water, while 74% of them travel more than 500 m to access water, indicating substantial time and labour burdens. Inferential analysis reveals a statistically significant association between water scarcity and socio-economic livelihood outcomes (X 2 = 21.073, P = 0.001), with 91.3% of households under severe water scarcity reporting poor livelihood conditions. Perception-based analysis further indicates that water scarcity strongly contributes to poverty and hunger (mean = 4.84), reduces agricultural productivity (mean = 4.73), and increases women’s workload (mean = 4.65), while affecting health, sanitation, and children’s education. Households adopt various coping strategies, including rainwater harvesting (100%), water rationing (97%), and short-term water storage (89%), although these strategies remain largely reactive and insufficient for long-term resilience. The study concludes that freshwater scarcity is a multidimensional livelihood stressor requiring integrated, context-specific water governance and livelihood support interventions to enhance rural resilience.