Accelerating rural sanitation coverage in Ghana: what are the speed bumps impeding progress?
Accelerating rural sanitation coverage in Ghana: what are the speed bumps impeding progress?
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Date
2015
Authors
Amissah, Reynolds Papa Kofi
Kyeremeh-Baffoe, Amos
Monney, Isaac
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Publisher
Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Abstract
Progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) sanitation target has generally been slow paced in Ghana. This is particularly the case in rural areas where access to improved sanitation has
increased by just 4% within two decades. This paper examines defecation practices as well as
constraints and existing opportunities at both household and institutional levels in promoting in house toilet construction. The study was conducted in three rural communities in the Tain district
and drew on key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and face-to-face
interviews of 400 residents selected from 249 houses. The results showed the scarcity of in-house
toilets, which means consequently open defecation and use of communal toilets are common
practices. The need for in-house toilet facilities is high among property owners without them, mainly
driven by the desire for comfort and safety. Barriers at the household level constraining latrine
installation include ignorance of low-cost technologies, the perceived high cost of latrines and the
low priority given to their ownership. Analysis of expenditure patterns at the local assembly shows
low priority afforded to sanitation promotion, which is constrained by low donor support, lack of
requisite logistics and poor human resource capacity. Existing opportunities for accelerating
sanitation coverage in these study communities are examined both at the household and
institutional levels, and best practices discussed.
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Citation
Monney, I., Baffoe-Kyeremeh, A., & Amissah-Reynolds, P. K. (2015). Accelerating rural sanitation coverage in Ghana: what are the speed bumps impeding progress?. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 5(4), 531-543.