Poor sanitation costs Ghana $290m annually – Former EPA Boss

The former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kokofu has lamented the huge amount of money spent as a result of the nation's poor sanitation. 

Speaking at the Joy News National Dialogue on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Dr. Kokofu lamented that poor sanitation costs the country $290 million.

"Ghana loses $290 million annually—equivalent to $12 per person per year, or 1.6% of the nation’s GDP," he said while contributing to the theme "Enhancing climate resilience, safe and sustainable wash services delivery," Dr. Kokofu said in a report by myjoyonline.com. 

Additionally, Dr. Kokofu brought attention to the fact that 4.8 million Ghanaians do not have access to basic sanitation facilities, and that the annual cost of open defecation to the nation is $79 million.  

He emphasized that the installation of less than a million latrines would be necessary to end this practice, which might result in significant cost savings and gains to public health.  

Dr. Kokofu also emphasized the necessity of lowering the 16 million or so Ghanaians who presently use shared restrooms.

KA/EK