The project had provided the improved household toilet facilities for individuals in low income households, after the Ministry mobilised a household contribution of GH¢12 Million to operationalise the project.

Another 406 toilet units-squat plate and water closets had been constructed for 257 schools and three non-educational institutions.  The toilet facilities had overhead tanks, squat plates, waste bins and hand wash basins, waste bin shed, and water closet for persons with disability.

This was disclosed at a consultative meeting held in Accra by Engineers of the GAMA project and the M-CODe to deliberate on measures to improve on the fight against open defaecation.

Mr Kwadwo Antwi Gyasi, a Sanitation Engineer of the Project said the objectives of the project development were to increase access to improved sanitation and water supply with emphasis on low income communities, and strengthen the management of environmental sanitation in the GAMA.

He said the target output of the project was to provide 19,100 toilet facilities for over 115,000 people in low income areas, however, 14,667 had been constructed, constituting 75.3 per cent of the overall project.

Among the beneficiary communities were, Achiaman, Doblogonno, Kotoku, Medie, Pokuase, Paapase in the Ga West Municipal Area and Kanewu, Abonko, Klagon, and Lashibi in the Tema Metropolitan Area.  Others are Teshie Zongo, Agbleza, Tsuibleoo, Sea Lady, Nungua Odikoman, Mangoase in the Ledzorkuku Krowor Municipal Area and Agege, Glefe, Chokor, Sabon Zongo, Jamestown, Odorkor, Korle-Gonno, Bubuashie and Nima in the Accra Metropolitan Area.

Other beneficial Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) were Ga South, La Nkwantanan-Madina, Ashaiman, Adentan, Ga East, Ga Central, and La Dade-Kotopon. Mr Gyasi said 99 per cent of the toilet facilities constructed were bio-digesters and the remaining one per cent were septic tanks with connections to existing sewer systems.

He explained that, the digesters required a relatively small space of about 1.1 metre square as compared to septic tanks that required about five metre square.   “The digester costs less, about GH¢1,500, while a septic tank for same number of users is about GH¢3, 500,” he said.

Mr Gabriel Engmann, a Sanitary Engineer, said the target population for schools were 200,000 pupils, approximately 51 per cent females and 49 per cent males. He noted that 48,378 pupils in 119 schools within 11 MMAs were trained in handwashing, Open Defaecation Concept, Environmental Sanitation, water and food security and facility maintenance.

Among the beneficiary schools were Arakan Basic School and Anglican Basic Schools in the La-Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, Baatsona TMA JHS, Adjei Kojo TMA Basic Schools, Kwabenya MA Cluster of Schools, Afiama Methodist, St Maurice, and Icodehs Islamic Basic Schools.

Mr Engmann disclosed that an estimate done per year over sample operation and maintenance cost of the toilet facilities constructed for the schools is expected to be GHC6,510.00 for water bills, GH¢500.00 for electricity bills, GH¢1,350.00 for dislodging bills, and GH¢4,000.00 for Consumables.

It also included GHC2,700.00 for periodic maintenance of facilities, GHC 600.00 for repair of faulty parts, and GHC400.00 for proper disposal of Solid Waste, he said.Mr George Asiedu, the Coordinator of the Project, urged government to contract private individuals to clean and maintain the facilities in schools, explaining that, leaving them in the care of the pupils could damage the facilities early.

“Why should we give them free books, uniforms and food without making provisions for free toilets?” he said.

He urged the Ghana Water Company to consider other means of generating revenue for the state, other than demanding for utility payment from schools, adding that, the Company loses 50 per cent of revenue due to unaccounted usage of water by individuals and institutions, hence the need for the Company to identify them for payment. 

Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, the Patron of M-CODe said over 60 per cent of the toilet facilities constructed for schools were not in use because the schools find maintenance of the facility a challenge.

She called on Government to provide them with means of maintaining the facilities to prevent them from going back to practice open defaecation after the facility is damaged as a result of improper maintenance.

She said the M-CODe considers open defaecation a matter of national disgrace and called for the speeding up of efforts to resolve the national canker.