AMA to build 200 toilets in 100 days for half price

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly says it will soon commence construction of some 200 toilets within 100 days in selected households in the metropolis.

The project dubbed ‘A Toilet at Half Price’ is targeted at improving growing sanitation concerns in the capital and also to stop open defecation along the coastal areas of the country.

The project forms part of the implementation of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) - Sanitation and Water Project (SWP) Rapid Response Initiative (RRI).

The GAMA-SWP is targeted at improving sanitation, water supply and to strengthen the management of environmental sanitation with emphasis on low-income urban areas within GAMA.

Beneficiary communities include Chorkor, Sabon Zongo, Glefe, Mampose, and Gbegbeyise.

The AMA drains maintenance unit director and coordinator of the project, Graham Sarbah, said the project would make affordable toilet facilities to the selected households and also strengthen the management of environmental sanitation in the GAMA.

According to Graham, Sarbah GAMA secured a total sum of 150 million dollars from the World Bank for the project.

“He, however, indicated that the 150 million dollars are not for AMA, that should be made clear but rather it is for 11 Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies within Greater Accra.

“During the 100 days, those who would be smart enough or have the funding to pay for the 50% of the cost of the toilet, they would benefit from the 50%. After the 100 days, those who have not paid would have to pay the full cost of 100% and I can tell you that a lot of people have shown interest.”

Each household is expected to pay a sum of two thousand cedis to commence the project after which GAMA will then pay the remaining amount two months after completion of the facility.

There are eight types of toilets to be constructed. Mr. Sarbah said “the construction would not be undertaken by AMA staff. We have contractors who have been engaged in the project coordinating unit who have been engaged to execute the project and they have come out with various designs of toilets.”

They are water closet with a septic tank, water closet with the bio-fil digester, pour-flush with septic tank, pour flush with a bio-fil digester, ventilated improved pit (KVIP) with a bio-fil digester, ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine with bio-fil digester, bio-fil stand-alone toilet (micro flush), and communal toilet.

The five-year-long project, which became effective in august 2014, is being implemented by the ministry of local government and rural development (MLGRD) through its project coordinating council, and the ministry of water resources, works and housing through the Ghana water company limited.