The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, has sounded a strong warning over Ghana’s deteriorating sanitation situation, revealing alarming statistics that highlight the country’s struggle to meet basic hygiene standards.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement to mark the 2025 World Toilet Day, he disclosed that Ghana loses more than $500 million every year due to poor sanitation management—an economic burden he described as both avoidable and unacceptable.
According to the Minister, the country’s sanitation challenges are compounded by inadequate access to household toilet facilities. “Only 25 percent of households in Ghana have access to improved, non-shared toilet facilities,” he said. This means that three out of every four households still lack basic private toilets, exposing millions of citizens to public health risks. Hon. Ibrahim further noted that 18 percent of Ghanaians continue to practise open defecation, with the Upper East Region recording a staggering 49 percent, the highest in the country.
Addressing members of the press and other stakeholders, he expressed deep concern that a lower-middle-income country like Ghana is still battling sanitation gaps of this magnitude. He explained that Ghana’s sanitation deficit is being worsened by rapid urban growth. “Our urban population is expanding at 3.3 percent annually—one of the fastest rates in Africa. Unfortunately, this growth has far outpaced the provision of sanitation infrastructure,” he lamented.
Highlighting the situation in Accra, the Minister stated that the capital’s population has increased by more than 60 percent over the last two decades, yet the expansion of sewerage systems remains minimal. This mismatch, he said, has created pressure on existing facilities and contributed to recurring sanitation-related health challenges.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim attributed the slow progress in improving sanitation to several factors, including chronic underfunding, rapid urbanization, weak enforcement of sanitation by-laws by local assemblies, and a general public attitude that treats toilet facilities as optional rather than essential. He called for a renewed national commitment toward sanitation improvement.
“A ‘Toilet for All’ agenda requires shared responsibility from citizens, institutions, and government alike,” he emphasized. He urged all stakeholders to adopt a proactive mindset, stressing that accelerating sanitation improvements is not just a government obligation but a collective duty.
The 2025 World Toilet Day was celebrated under the theme “Accelerating Change: Toilet for All, Everyone’s Responsibility.”
