In Ghana, much like in other developing nations around the world, public toilets represent the single largest form of basic sanitation access. Although public toilets are the backbone of an urban area’s essential sanitation services, they are often found in disrepair, unclean and unhygienic. Maintaining safe and hygienic conditions in these spaces is a necessity. Specific guidelines can support the realisation of required practices for the operation and maintenance of these toilets.
In response to this pressing issue, the Toilet Board Coalition in collaboration with Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Witties Ghana conducted a transformative training programme in Accra to increase the capacity of public toilet operators in Africa and change the narrative of how public toilets are run, promoting the dignity of operators, and raising the standards of operations in these facilities.
“During the training, I was thrilled by the sheer enthusiasm exhibited by the operators and their desire to acquire more information and tools to guide their operations. These trainings do not only empower, and improve the dignity of operators as sanitation workers but also unlocks multiple economic benefits in the public toilet service chain.”
Eric Nartey, Accelerator and Partnerships Manager at Toilet Board Coalition
The two-day programme was developed based on the Star-Rated Public Toilet Guidelines by the Toilet Board Coalition and translated into a local Ghanaian language. With this document and the recommendations of a rating system, the Toilet Board Coalition intends to promote guidelines on how to build, maintain and use public toilets with the user experience at the forefront. In addition to guidelines and recommendations, a self-assessment and audit checklist is included to be used by toilet entrepreneurs and operators to guide their work.
With 70 attendees, the in-person comprehensive training equipped public toilet operators with vital skills to strengthen sanitation practices in Accra.
The training programme aimed to:
- Enhance Value: By adhering to the Star Rated Guidelines, operators were able to amplify the value of their facilities, potentially tripling their earnings from user fees.
- Ensure User Satisfaction: Users of these facilities experienced a notable improvement in service quality, resulting in increased visitation rates and greater satisfaction.
- Advance Public Health: Elevating sanitation standards at the community level directly contributes to the government’s overarching objective of reducing the incidence of diseases.
We’re looking to expand this initiative to other cities in Africa. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to info@toiletboard.org.
