Sanitation policy in Ghana : key factors and the potential for ecological sanitation solutions

Ghana presents an interesting case for the ecosan programme: in several districts, there are already competitive markets for faecal sludge, the most common sanitation technology in urban areas is a double-vault composting VIP latrine, and there is ample private-sector involvement in sanitation provision. There are many well organized actors involved in the sector (government, civil society, and
private sector), and sanitation policies appear well developed on paper. Yet sanitation coverage is clearly inadequate: 38% of Kumasi’s population relies on public toilets, over three-quarters of the population rely on shared toilet facilities, and tens of thousands of urban residents rely on open defecation. There is little treatment of faecal sludge in Ghana. This paper summarizes the current sanitation and sanitation policy needs for Kumasi, Ghana, and outlines some potential opportunities for ecosan in Ghana.

(authors abstract)