Mahama tells assemblies not to approve buildings without toilet facilities
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly enforce building regulations and deny permits to any residential, commercial or public projects that do not include adequate toilet and sanitation facilities.
The directive is part of the government’s renewed campaign against open defecation and was issued during the launch of Ghana’s 2025 Voluntary National Review Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Accra.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, open defecation still persists in parts of Ghana. This is not just a public health issue it is a matter of dignity, environmental protection and social equity,” President Mahama said.
He lamented the continued prevalence of open defecation despite existing bylaws that require sanitation facilities as a prerequisite for building approvals. The President called out assemblies for allowing noncompliant structures to spring up across communities.
“All district assemblies have in their bylaws that you can’t obtain a building permit without sanitation facilities. So how is it that people are still defecating in the open, what many jokingly refer to as ‘free range’?” he questioned.
Injecting a moment of levity, the President recalled hearing people say they “prefer it because they get ‘air conditioning at their rear end,’” a statement he said underscored both the absurdity and tragedy of the situation.
“We must act decisively to end this practice. The real issue is not lack of knowledge; it is lack of investment, weak enforcement and insufficient community engagement,” he stressed.
President Mahama’s directive places renewed pressure on local authorities to uphold existing regulations. The move comes amid growing concern from health experts, civil society and international partners about the slow pace of progress on SDG 6—ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all.
“District assemblies must live up to their mandates. No one should be allowed to construct a home, school, shop or church without making provisions for basic sanitation. It’s that simple,” the President emphasized.
He called for integrated action by Environmental Health Officers, Town and Country Planning Departments and assembly engineers to ensure all new structures comply with sanitation codes before construction begins.
“Ending open defecation is a collective responsibility. We cannot achieve the SDGs if people still live without dignity and basic sanitation,” the President added.
