Residents of Katakyiase are appealing to the government and relevant authorities to provide public toilet facilities to address growing sanitation concerns in the community.
The absence of functioning public toilets has made it difficult for residents, particularly those without toilet facilities in their homes, to meet their basic sanitation needs. While some are forced to travel to neighbouring communities to access toilet facilities, others resort to using open spaces, raising concerns about environmental hygiene and public health.
Once available, now gone
Mr. Kofi Gyimah, who has lived in the community for five years, said Katakyiase previously had public toilet facilities, but they are no longer available.
He explained that not every household has a toilet, making the absence of public facilities particularly challenging for residents who depend on them.
He therefore appealed to the government to provide public toilets to ease the difficulties and improve sanitation in the community.
Mr. Anthony, who has lived in Katakyiase for more than 58 years, shared a similar experience. He said the community once had a public toilet, but it deteriorated over time and eventually became unusable.
According to him, the community has expanded considerably over the years, with more people settling in the area, further increasing the demand for accessible public toilet facilities.
Residents forced to improvise
Mr. Anthony said the absence of a functioning public toilet has forced some residents to travel to neighbouring villages to access toilet facilities.
He added that others resort to using nearby bushes, while some collect human waste in polythene bags and dispose of it carelessly, worsening sanitation and environmental conditions in the community.
Madam Monica also expressed concern about the situation, particularly for residents who do not have toilet facilities in their homes.
She appealed to the authorities to provide public toilets to enable residents to meet their basic sanitation needs without difficulty.
Madam Rebecca similarly stressed the importance of public toilet facilities in maintaining a clean and healthy environment. She called on the government and other relevant authorities to intervene and address the sanitation challenges confronting the community.
Complaints met with delays
Mr. Anthony said residents have raised concerns about the lack of public toilets on several occasions over the years.
He explained that although officials have repeatedly promised to visit the community to assess the situation, such visits have yet to materialise.
He acknowledged efforts by the assemblyman to address the problem but said no concrete action has so far been taken towards providing a new public toilet facility.
Mr. Anthony appealed to the government to construct at least two public toilets for the community, noting that the facilities would improve access to sanitation and promote better hygiene among residents.
Assembyman cites funding challenge
The Assemblyman, Mr. Akompong, confirmed that the existing public toilet has been in a poor and unusable condition for approximately three to four years due to a lack of funds for maintenance.
He said efforts were underway to secure a new public toilet facility for the community, adding that land had already been secured for the project and discussions were ongoing with the relevant authorities to obtain funding.
Mr. Akompong explained that construction would commence once the necessary funds became available and appealed to residents to exercise patience while efforts continued.
He also encouraged residents who could afford it to consider constructing toilet facilities in their homes to reduce pressure on public infrastructure.
The proposed public toilet project, he said, is expected to help address the sanitation challenges in Katakyiase and improve residents’ access to proper toilet facilities.
