Miss Adwoa Gyakoa Appiah-Kubi, the current Child Sanitation Diplomat, has issued a stern warning to adults engaging in open defecation, urging them to abandon the shameful practice for the sake of maintaining a clean and safe environment. Speaking at the launch of her sanitation campaign, Miss Appiah-Kubi emphasized the importance of adults setting a good example for children to follow in promoting good sanitation practices within communities.
Expressing concern over the lack of access to improved and hygienic toilets in both public and private basic schools, Miss Appiah-Kubi highlighted the significant role that inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services play in contributing to diseases and deaths worldwide. She cited statistics from the Population and Housing Census 2021, revealing that while access to basic drinking water is high in Ghana, access to improved sanitation facilities remains low, with over five million people resorting to open defecation daily.
Committed to combating poor sanitation practices, Miss Appiah-Kubi outlined her one-year sanitation project, which includes peer sensitization visits to schools, production of educational materials such as videos, campaign photography, and T-shirts, as well as engagement with the media through interviews and documentary production. Additionally, she pledged to promote access to improved toilets in basic schools and healthcare facilities, with a focus on providing handwashing facilities and changing rooms for girls.
Miss Appiah-Kubi advocated for accelerated action to end open defecation in Ghana, particularly in the Central Region, where 11.7% of the population practices this harmful behaviour. She urged government and municipal authorities to introduce innovative financing arrangements to ensure every household has access to improved toilet facilities, citing models such as the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP) and GASSLIP.
The project, supported by various stakeholders including World Vision Ghana, the Ministry of Sanitation, Water and Natural Resources, Zoomlion Foundation, Ghana Education Service, GAMA SWP, and Kings Hall Media Limited, aims to promote sustainable access to improved household toilet facilities and the practice of handwashing. Miss Appiah-Kubi appealed to all relevant stakeholders, especially parents, to support children in adopting good sanitation practices for the betterment of national development.