Do not authorize structures without toilet facilities – Mahama directs Assemblies

All district assemblies have been directed by President John Dramani Mahama to refuse building licenses for any construction that does not have adequate sanitary facilities.

The order is a component of redoubled efforts to address open defecation, a chronic problem that still poses a threat to the environment and public health in many regions of the nation.

President Mahama urged rigorous enforcement of building standards to guarantee that all new residential, commercial, and public structures are equipped with functional restrooms during his remarks at the inauguration of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Voluntary National Report.

“It is unacceptable that in 2025, open defecation persists in parts of Ghana,” he said. “This is not just a public health issue; it is a matter of dignity and equity. Our sanitation crisis is not caused by a lack of knowledge, but by gaps in investment, enforcement, and community engagement. We must act decisively to end this practice.”

The President questioned why the problem continues despite existing by-laws requiring sanitation facilities as a condition for building permits.

“All district assemblies have in their by-laws that you can’t obtain a building permit without providing sanitation facilities. So, how is it that people are still defecating in the open—what many jokingly refer to as ‘free range’? The most disturbing part is that some say they prefer it because they get ‘air conditioning at their rear end.’”

He urged local authorities to live up to their mandates and crack down on non-compliance. “The district assemblies must enforce their bylaws. No one should be allowed to build without sanitation facilities,” he added.