Ahmed Ibrahim (M) among other dignitaries during the meeting
The government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, has announced plans to reintroduce the National Sanitation Day initiative alongside a National Sanitation League to improve hygiene and waste management across the country.
Speaking during a courtesy call paid on him by the Ghana Coalition for NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), on March 10, 2025, the sector minister, Ahmed Ibrahim, stated that the move aligns with the government’s renewed commitment to improving sanitation at the district level.
“On our part as a ministry, we are working to reintroduce the National Sanitation Day and the National Sanitation League. This decision comes as part of the president’s directive to allocate about 80% of the District Assembly Common Fund to district structures. With increased resources, we expect greater accountability and improved sanitation outcomes,” he said.
According to the minister, the initiative will officially begin on the first Saturday of April 2025, with the establishment of a National Sanitation Taskforce to oversee its implementation nationwide.
Additionally, the ministry plans to introduce a National Sanitation League, which will rank districts based on their sanitation performance.
Under this system, districts that fail to meet sanitation standards may face punitive measures from both technical and political authorities in charge.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Coalition for NGOs in Water & Sanitation (CONIWAS), Basilia Nanbigne, emphasized the need for a behavioural change strategy to encourage citizens to adopt better sanitation practices.
“Sanitation is about behavioural change. People need to understand why having a toilet is crucial—not just for convenience but for promoting health and overall well-being,” she said.
Nanbigne also highlighted that the ultimate goal of the National Sanitation Day and Sanitation League is to keep Ghana clean, promote hygiene, and improve the well-being of citizens.
“The most important thing is effectiveness. What matters is the outcome, not just the strategies. If we can achieve cleaner communities, then the initiative is successful,” she added.
In support of the initiative, Awudu Yakubu Imoro, a representative of the Coalition of NGOs in Health and Sanitation, pledged their commitment to working with the ministry through advocacy and community mobilization efforts at the district and community levels.
“We will actively support the ministry in mobilizing communities towards sanitation day and other related issues,” he stated.
AM/KA
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