The Municipal Chief Executive of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Ismail Zagoon-Saeed, revealed that residents in the area prefer open defecation, or "free range," to using provided toilet facilities. This disclosure was made during a public hearing on the annual statements and audit reports of the Central Regional Coordinating Council and the assemblies under it. The hearings, chaired by Maame Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, focused on sanitation, spatial planning, and revenue mobilisation.
According to Zagoon-Saeed, despite the assembly providing a public toilet at the beach, residents continue to relieve themselves in the open, including on the sea defence wall. The MCE stated that even after cleaning the area, the problem persists, with people defecating on the sea defence wall that protects the town. This has raised concerns about the spread of diseases such as cholera and the need for stronger public education on the issue.
The committee, led by Maame Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, suggested that the assembly provide toilets at strategic points along the beaches and fence off areas where open defecation is common. However, Zagoon-Saeed noted that fencing the affected stretch, which runs from Elmina towards Komenda, may be difficult. The committee warned that the practice could lead to the spread of diseases and called for immediate action.
A University of Ghana study found that many households in the municipality lack toilets, and income and education are significant predictors of open defecation. The study, available on the university's UGSpace repository, highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the issue. The Chronicle believes that any remedy must combine provision with enforcement, including the application of sanitation bye-laws.
The Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936), and sanitation bye-laws provide the framework for assemblies to enforce sanitation regulations. However, if KEEA's bye-laws are not being applied, it would be a failure of mandate. The health risks associated with open defecation are real, including the spread of cholera, typhoid, and other diarrhoeal diseases.
The Chronicle is calling on the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to support the assembly and treat the matter as a public health priority. The Ministry should also inform the public about the status of household toilet subsidies, such as those under the World Bank-backed Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project.
To address the issue, KEEA Assembly must publish and enforce its sanitation bye-laws, prosecute offenders, and expand toilet provision along the beaches. Traditional leaders and Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, a native of Komenda, should also lend their support to the effort to eradicate open defecation in the area.
Key points
- The Ghanaian Chronicle criticizes the open defecation practice in KEEA as unacceptable and calls for immediate action.
- A University of Ghana study highlights the lack of toilets and the role of income and education in predicting open defecation in the municipality.
- The Chronicle urges the Ministry of Local Government to support the assembly and revive household toilet subsidies to address the sanitation issue.
