The Ho West District Assembly on 19th November 2025 observed World Toilet Day at the Awudome Avenui Methodist Church under the theme “ We will Always Need a Toilet.” The event was organised to raise public awareness on the importance of safe sanitation, promote household toilet construction, uphold human dignity, and strengthen the campaign against open defecation across the district.
In his keynote address, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Profer Francis Dusey, emphasized that access to safe and dignified sanitation is essential to achieving SDG 6.2, which seeks to end open defecation and ensure access to sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. He noted that over 3.4 billion people globally still lack safe sanitation, with 419 million practicing open defecation.
Hon. Dusey stated that ending open defecation requires a strong commitment to improving sanitation infrastructure, promoting behavioral change, and enforcing relevant policies. He called on households to prioritize the construction and maintenance of decent toilets, promote good hygiene practices, and keep their surroundings clean to prevent disease outbreaks within their communities.
He further announced that Awudome Avenui will benefit from one skip container in 2026 to support improved sanitation and expressed hope that by next year the community’s CHPS Compound would be commissioned and handed over to the Ministry of Health for use. He also disclosed that the Member of Parliament for Ho West Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has allocated a 12-unit, 2-storey classroom block to the Avenui Technical Institute to boost teaching and learning.
The Regional Environmental Health Officer, Mrs. Stella Kumedzro, indicated that open defecation remains a major public health threat affecting health, education, and productivity. She added that it also contributes to the spread of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, and helminthiasis, leading to frequent illness and absenteeism, particularly among schoolchildren. She stressed that inadequate toilet facilities in schools often affect children especially girls to miss classes and reiterated that eliminating open defecation is a collective responsibility that requires active community participation.
The District Environmental Health and Sanitation Analyst, Mr. Daniel Kumah, stressed the need for every household to have a toilet as part of efforts to achieve an open defecation free district. He outlined measures being implemented by the Assembly to enforce sanitation by-laws and encourage communities to adopt safe sanitation practices.
The District SHEP Coordinator, Mrs. Peace Kordorwu, highlighted the importance of functional and well-maintained school toilets in promoting hygiene and supporting effective teaching and learning. She encouraged schools to keep their toilet facilities clean and accessible to inculcate long-term sanitation habits in pupils, both in school and at home.
The Chief of Avenui, Togbe Adzesi Dzaga VI, who chaired the event, appealed to residents to adopt positive sanitation behaviours, keep their environment clean, construct household toilets, and support the Assembly’s efforts in improving sanitation in the community.
Pupils also performed educative role plays demonstrating the proper use of toilets, the need to keep the environment clean, and the importance of hand washing with soap under running water. Their presentation emphasized how simple hygiene behaviours can prevent diseases and promote healthy living in homes, schools, and the wider community.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including the District Chief Executive, the Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Officer and her team, Assembly Members, staff of the District Assembly, Environmental Health Officers, the District SHEP Coordinator, Staff of Ghana Health Directorate, the Chief and people of Awudome Avenui, the clergy and students.
Source: ISD, Ho West District
