Banks, Filling Stations, and Telecoms Should Be Mandated to Provide Toilets: Journalist Calls for Bold Action Against Open Defecation
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
See how your MMDAs performed in the Upper East Region 2022–Report
MMDAs in the Upper East Region performed abysmally in the 2022 Performance Evaluation Report of Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) & Metropolitan, Municipal And District Assemblies (MMDAS). Apexnewsgh.com reports In the case of Upper East Region, only Kassena Nankana West represented the region well with an excellent score of 8.13 percent representing 32nd position out of the 16 RCCs & 261 MMDAs who conducted their Annual Evaluation on their performance and submitted reports to the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) in January 2022 for decision making. Below are the positions of various MMDAs in the region: These are MMDAs in the Upper East Region with ‘VERY GOOD’ remark despite their performance. Bolgatanga 65th, Kassena Nankana East 67th, Bawku West 92nd, Builsa North 105th, Bongo 143rd, Bolgatanga East 157th These are MMDAs in the Upper East Region with ‘ GOOD’ remark despite their performance Pusiga 163rd, Talensi 173rd, Tempane 176th, Binduri 207th, Nabdam 215th, Builsa South 220th, Garu 227th These are MMDAs in the Upper East Region with ‘ SATISFACTORY’ remark despite their performance is 0 These are MMDA in the Upper East Region with ‘ UNSATISFATORY’ remark in the Upper East Region is Bawku The Local Government Service per section 51 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), is established to secure effective administration and management of decentralized Local Government system in the country. As stated in its mission, the Local Government Service (LGS) “exists to support Local Government to deliver value for money services through the mobilization, harmonization and utilization of qualified, human capacity and material resources to promote local and national development”. In line with this mission statement, the LGS has developed a comprehensive Performance Management System (PMS) that is based on agreed Service Delivery Standards (SDS). The Service Delivery Standards are operationalized through the PMS at all levels. The PMS is a systematic process for improving performance by developing the individual performance of staff and teams to enhance productivity, develop competencies, increase job satisfaction and achieve the full potential of all staff in the Service in line with Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936). It is operationalized through the Performance Management Instruments (Contract & Appraisal) in which the Service enters into agreement and commitment with its employees to set clear, quantifiable objectives and indicators for attainment within a given timeframe. For the year 2022, Performance Contracts (PCs) based on planned achievement of indicators in Key Performance Areas were signed between Honourable Regional Ministers (RMs) and their Regional Coordinating Directors (RCDs) at the Regional level and Honourable Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Coordinating Directors (MMDCDs) at the Distric level. Even though the Performance Contracts were signed between the RMs and the RCDs as well as the MMDCEs and MMDCDs, it is worth noting that their overall performance mirrors that of their respective Regional Coordinating Councils (RCDs) as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). This is as a result of the fact that the RCDs & MMDCDs signed the contract on behalf of the entire staff of the RCCs & MMDAs. Hence, the emphasis of the assessment is placed on the overall achievement of the RCC & MMDA under the leadership of the respective RCD & MMDCD. The 16 RCCs & 261 MMDAs conducted their Annual Evaluation on their performance and submitted reports to the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) in January 2022 for decision making. To be able to make objective and informed decisions, the OHLGS sought the services of Directors and some support staff of the OHLGS to conduct an independent verification exercise on the RCCs and MMDAs on the actual performance of the RCCs & MMDAs in April to May, 2023. The assessment of the Performance Contracts across the 16 RCCs and 261 MMDAs was funded with support from the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through CARE International in Ghana. The content of this assessment review report is the sole responsibility of the Government of Ghana and do not reflect the views of USAID, CARE International in Ghana and their respective Governments. The Office of the Head of the Local Government Service is grateful to the Directors and support staff of the OHLGS for their time and expertise in supporting the OHLGS to carry out the Review, Monitoring and Verification of implementation of the 2022 Performance Contracts. The OHLGS is particularly thankful to Honourable Regional Ministers and Honourable Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for their commitment and logistical support to their Coordinating Directors and also providing invaluable insights into the performance. The OHLGS is further appreciative of the cooperation, responses and useful suggestions offered by RCDs & MMDCDs, and their staff during the whole process of the implementation of the 2022 Performance Contract and is looking forward to more collaboration and mutual support among all officers of the Service in the subsequent years. ING. DR. NANA ATO ARTHUR HEAD OF SERVICE Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
MMDCEs to support funeral of Regional Minister’s dad with about GH¢50,000?
• MMDAs are asked to contribute towards the funeral of Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah’s father • The MMDAs are paying about GH¢ 50,000 • They have been directed to pay to the Regional Accountant – WRCC (Room 19) by close of Monday, September 20 GhanaWeb has intercepted a letter from the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC), asking Metropolitan Municipal District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and Metropolitan Municipal District Chief Directors (MMDCDs) to contribute towards the final funeral rites of the father of the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, popularly known as Kobby. The letter which is on the letterhead of the WRCC dated September 15, 2021, and signed by the Chief Director/RCD, Fredrick Agyemang, is directing all the 14 assemblies in the Western Region to contribute a total of GH¢ 49,000 towards the funeral. The introduction of the said letter suggests that, there have been prior discussions with the deans of all MMDCEs and MMDCDs discussing how best they can support the Regional Minister to give his late father, Nana Boanyina Adusei Mensah II, a befitting burial. GhanaWeb checks reveal that some MCEs are yet to receive the letter but there has been an earlier funeral invitation from the WRCC inviting all the 14 assemblies and their MCEs to the funeral which is slated to take place between September 23 to 25, 2021 at Boanim in the Ashanti Region. “Following a decision with the deans of MMDCEs and MMDCES… it has been decided that your MMDA is to contribute the following amount towards the final funeral rites of the late father of the Hon Regional Minister, Nana Boanyina Adusei Mensah II, Boanimhene…”, the letter directed. It continued: “Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Prestea Huni Valley Municipal, Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal, Ellembelle District and Effia Kwesiminstim Municipal Assemblies [are to pay an amount of] GH¢5,000 each. “Ahanta West Municipal, Wassa Amenfi East Municipal, Wassa Amenfi West Municipal and Jomoro Assemblies [are to pay] GH¢3,500 each. “Wassa East District, Shama District, Wassa Amenfi Central District, Nzema East Municipal and Mpohor District Assemblies [are to pay] GH¢2,000 each.” All monies, the Chief Director instructs, should be paid to the Regional Accountant – WRCC (Room 19) by close of work on Monday, September 20, 2021. Read the letter from the WRCC below.
MMDCEs: President Akufo-Addo Submits Finalized List To Dan Botwe To Announce
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has finalised the list of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to be nominated to serve in the next three-and-a-half years. The list is expected to be received by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Daniel Botwe, Thursday morning for onward announcement. These were disclosed by the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin. “Expect the list to be announced by the Minister very soon,” he wrote on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, September 15. Delay in nominating chief executives for the various metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) has been a matter of concern to many groups and individuals. In July, the Chamber for Local Government (ChaLoG) accused President Akufo-Addo of employing “unnecessary” and “unproductive” processes in nominating MMDCEs. “ChaLoG wishes to call on the President to urgently come to terms with the negative impact his actions and inactions which has led to the delay in nominating MMDCEs to be confirmed by the Hon Assembly Members, is having on the smooth administration of the MMDAs,” it said in a press release on Sunday, July 25. The President had issued a directive through the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, for MMDCEs from his first term to continue acting in office. This issue was dragged to court by Member of Parliament for South Dayi Constituency Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor. ChaLoG felt that directive has hampered progress in the local assemblies. “As a result of this directive, all the MMDAs across the country have not undertaken any new projects even though they continue to collect Property Rates, Business Operating Permits, Markets and Lorry Tolls from rate payers, yet no capital projects are being undertaken by the Assemblies seven months into the year 2021.” Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093