The Sanitation Challenge in Ghana & Sub-Saharan Africa

According to the WHO/ UNICEF JMP progress report for 2024, 46% (552 million) of people in Sub-Saharan Africa either defecate in the open or use unimproved sanitation facilities. Only 35% of this population have access to basic or safely managed sanitation. In Ghana, 6.2 million people (18%) still practice open defecation whereas only 32% have access to at least basic sanitation.

For Ghana, meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.2a (‘by 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for ALL and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations’) will require 23.4 million people gaining access to at least basic sanitation over the next 5 years (2026-2030). This implies providing about 1.17 million new toilets annually for the next five years using an average Ghanaian household size of 4.

This deficit undermines health, dignity and productivity but presents a good opportunity for employment especially for the youth thus contributing to achieving SDG Target 8.6 (i.e. promote youth employment, education and training). The Ghana Statistical Service and International Labour Organization reports 1.9 million and 53 million youth in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa respectively; are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This opportunity is what drives SESNET-Africa’s More Toilets, More Jobs (MTMJ) Programme.

Meeting and sustaining these targets require the concerted effort of all stakeholders including households, national and local governments, international development agencies, private sector, etc. Private enterprises in particular will have to lead research and development of innovative and sustainable low-cost toilet facility options to ensure accelerated uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa.