World Toilet Day, observed every year on November 19th, is a day dedicated to addressing the global sanitation crisis.
In Ghana, this annual event highlights the importance of safe and sustainable sanitation systems and serves as a platform to raise awareness about our people, who still lack access to clean and safe toilets.
In the quest for a cleaner, healthier future, Ghana’s efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on health and sanitation have faced various challenges. However, it is important to talk about our successes as well.
Like many other African countries, Ghana has serious problems with sanitation. Even though we have made notable progress over the years, there is still a long way to go to ensure access to safe and hygienic sanitation for all.
Nearly one in five Ghanaians, according to UNICEF, still defecate outside, a practice that compromises public
health overall, contaminates water sources, and aids in the spread of disease.
To address this critical issue, Ghana has been actively working towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on “Clean Water and Sanitation”.
One example is promoting hygienic toilets. In collaboration with non-governmental organizations and international agencies, we have been promoting the construction and use of hygienic toilets in both urban and rural areas.
This effort aims to eliminate open defecation and ensure that every Ghanaian has access to a clean, safe toilet. Other solutions include a community-led total sanitation approach, which empowers communities to take the lead in improving their sanitation practices.
This encourages people to construct their own toilets and adopt good hygiene practices, which fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility.
To ensure that the next generation grows up with a strong understanding of the importance of sanitation and hygiene, the government and other advocacy groups in Ghana have been implementing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools programs.
These initiatives provide safe and clean toilet facilities in schools, educating children about the importance of sanitation.
More importantly, communication campaigns and awareness programs have been initiated to change social norms and attitudes toward sanitation. These campaigns have been effective in reducing open defecation rates and encouraging proper toilet usage.
Despite the significant efforts made, Ghana still faces several challenges on its journey towards sustainable sanitation.
Adequate funding is essential to implementing sustainable sanitation initiatives, and this remains a challenge. Investment in sanitation infrastructure and hygiene education is crucial for long-term success.
Moreover, issues like urban-rural disparities mean that urban areas have seen more progress in sanitation access compared to rural regions. Bridging this gap must remain a priority.
We also know that deeply rooted cultural norms and practices relating to sanitation pose a significant obstacle. Changing behaviors and taboos requires sustained efforts in awareness and education.
And last but not least, there is the issue of the climate change crisis. Ghana, like many countries, is facing the impacts of climate change, which can disrupt sanitation systems and lead to contamination of water sources. Adaptation strategies are necessary to address these challenges.
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