President John Dramani Mahama has directed all district assemblies across the country to withhold building permits for any construction that fails to include proper sanitation facilities, as part of intensified efforts to eliminate open defecation in Ghana.
The President issued the directive during the launch of Ghana’s Voluntary National Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing that enforcement of existing building regulations is key to addressing the nation’s ongoing sanitation crisis.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, open defecation persists in parts of Ghana,” President Mahama stated. “This is not just a public health issue; it is a matter of dignity and equity.”
Despite by-laws requiring that all new residential, commercial, and public buildings include functioning toilet facilities, open defecation remains widespread. The President blamed the situation not on a lack of awareness, but on failures in enforcement, investment, and community engagement.
He expressed frustration at the continued disregard for sanitation requirements. “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’?” he asked, adding with concern that “some even say they prefer it because they get ‘air conditioning at their rear end.’”
President Mahama called on local authorities to take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that no new structure is approved for construction unless it includes adequate sanitation.
“The district assemblies must enforce their bylaws. No one should be allowed to build without sanitation facilities,” he said, urging immediate and decisive action to protect public health and uphold the country’s development goals.
