In a passionate call to action, the Editor-in-Chief of Apexnewsgh, Mr. Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen, has urged the government, through Municipal and District Assemblies, to enact laws compelling banks, filling stations, telecommunication offices, and other commercial establishments to provide modern toilet facilities for their clients.
According to the journalist, such a measure would significantly reduce, and potentially help eradicate, open defecation (OD), a persistent public health crisis affecting both urban and rural communities across Ghana.
“Open defecation is a serious threat to our health. It is something that needs to be worked on urgently,” Mr. Ngamegbulam stated. “The government must take it seriously because it affects lives, and when lives are affected, properties are also affected.”
Despite national efforts, the journalist cited recent data indicating that as of late 2025, approximately 5.4 million Ghanaians – about 18 percent of the population – still practice open defecation, posing a significant public health risk. The prevalence rate has hovered between 15.2 and 18 percent, with rural areas and villages bearing the brunt.
The situation is particularly dire in the Upper East Region. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the region has a population of 1,301,226. Recent studies published in 2025 and 2026 show that open defecation rates there remain critically high, with estimates ranging from 49 percent to a staggering 81.9 percent of households engaging in the practice.
“The Upper East Region is consistently identified every year as having one of the highest open defecation rates in Ghana. This is a cause for great worry,” Mr. Ngamegbulam emphasized.
Mr. Ngamegbulam argued that tackling open defecation requires innovative thinking beyond conventional approaches.
“When issues like this come up, we should be able to think outside the box. What should we do as a people to minimize this, even if we cannot eradicate it completely?” he asked.
He pointed to the rapid proliferation of banks, filling stations, and other businesses across communities, yet these establishments rarely provide toilet access for their clients.
“It is unfair that you go to a bank to transact business, and unfortunately, you feel the urge to ease yourself, but there is no toilet provision made for clients,” he said. “You are forced to look for a nearby bush, enter there to avoid disgracing yourself, and in doing so, create more health hazards for society.”
Mr. Ngamegbulam believes that if these establishments were required to provide appropriate toilet facilities, it would go a long way in reducing open defecation.
The journalist proposed a practical solution: Municipal and District Assemblies should enact by-laws making it mandatory for any bank, filling station, or similar facility within their jurisdiction to have a public toilet attached.
“If assemblies can consider enacting this in their laws, it will go a long way in the fight against open defecation,” he said. “Everyone needs to come on board to contribute to eradicating this practice from our society.”
He also stressed the need for toilet facilities in schools and noted that many homes still lack attached toilets, a worrying gap that demands urgent attention.
“Any serious government that cares about the health of its people must take this seriously,” Mr. Ngamegbulam concluded.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com