🚨🗣️ 𝗠𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗔 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝗡𝗢 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗦

President John Dramani Mahama has firmly directed all district assemblies to reject building applications that do not include toilet facilities, as part of efforts to fight Ghana’s ongoing open defecation crisis.

Speaking at the launch of the SDG Voluntary National Report, Mahama stressed the need for strict enforcement of building regulations, calling open defecation in 2025 “unacceptable.”

“It’s not just a public health issue — it’s about dignity and equity. Our crisis stems from poor investment and weak enforcement,” he said.

He questioned why open defecation persists despite by-laws clearly requiring sanitation facilities in every building plan, calling on assemblies to uphold their responsibilities.

“No one should be allowed to build without proper toilets,” Mahama declared. “The excuse of ‘free range’ with ‘air conditioning at the rear end’ is not just laughable — it’s dangerous.”

The President urged local authorities to close enforcement gaps and ensure every new structure — residential, commercial, or public — includes functional sanitation systems.