No Building Permits Without Toilet Facilities – Mahama Orders Assemblies

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a firm directive to all district assemblies across the country: refuse building permits for any construction project that does not include proper toilet and sanitation facilities.

The call comes as part of a renewed national campaign to eliminate open defecation, a longstanding issue that continues to affect public health, environmental safety, and human dignity in several communities.

Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Voluntary National Report, President Mahama described the continued prevalence of open defecation as unacceptable in the year 2025.

“This is not just a public health issue—it is about dignity, equity, and responsible governance,” he stated. “Open defecation in this day and age reflects our failure to enforce existing regulations and invest in basic infrastructure.”

President Mahama questioned why open defecation persists despite clear local government by-laws that mandate the inclusion of sanitation facilities in all building plans.

“All district assemblies have by-laws requiring sanitation facilities before a building permit is issued. So why is open defecation still happening?” he asked. “Some even say they prefer ‘free range’ because of the ‘natural air conditioning’—that should tell you how far we’ve normalized a serious problem.”

He urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strictly enforce building regulations and hold developers accountable for compliance.

“The assemblies must take their enforcement role seriously. Nobody should be allowed to put up a structure without a toilet,” the President stressed.

Public health experts and sanitation advocates have praised the directive as a critical step in closing the gap between policy and implementation. Ghana remains one of several African countries where open defecation is still widespread, despite government and NGO efforts to curb the practice.

President Mahama’s comments signal a push for stronger community engagement, better resource allocation, and stricter enforcement as the country works toward achieving SDG 6—clean water and sanitation for all.