By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The poor handling of public toilet facilities at Madina Market and other markets across Ghana is a pressing concern that poses significant health risks to traders, buyers, and visitors.
The situation at Madina Market is dire, with reports describing the toilet facilities as “deplorable” and “inadequate” for the volume of users.
As part of activities marking the 2025 edition of the Ghana WASH Week celebration, members of the Ghana WASH Journalists Network (GWJN), in collaboration with the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), embarked on a tour of one of Accra’s busiest commercial centres, Madina Market, to assess and evaluate the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.
The field visit, which took place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, revealed a very troubling health situation faced by traders and shoppers alike. Despite the neatly kept stalls, there is a sanitation crisis behind the scenes that is putting lives at risk.
Observations made by GWJN members revealed that the only public toilet, built and operated by the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, is in a state of disrepair. Sanitation supplies, including handwashing buckets that were readily available during the COVID-19 pandemic, are now lacking.
Open drains filled with stagnant water and poor waste disposal practices further compound the issue, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera and malaria.
The only public toilet available is in ruins. One of the two buildings is no longer in use and is now serving as a warehouse. The building that remains in use has a broken septic tank with exposed fecal matter, polluting the air with a strong stench. The waste has become a breeding ground for flies and other insects.
Currently, the only relatively clean toilet facility is privately managed and located about 500 meters away from the dilapidated public facility. Users must pay GH¢3 for regular use and GH¢5 for VIP access—fees that many market users find unaffordable for daily use.
Traders and drivers are forced to live and work in filth and stench daily, despite paying tolls and levies that are not being used to improve these conditions. Some fruit and vegetable sellers sit close to the exposed fecal matter to ply their trade, despite the looming public health threat.
Speaking in an interview, the Secretary of the Madina Market Traders Association, Madam Eunice Quao, said that market leadership and traders have made considerable efforts to maintain cleanliness and adhere to sanitation regulations.
She emphasized that Madina Market remains one of the cleanest in the city thanks to the commitment of its stakeholders. However, Madam Quao acknowledged persistent challenges, particularly the lack of sanitation supplies and the deteriorating condition of the public toilet facility.
She appealed to government agencies and development partners to support the market with better sanitation infrastructure.
“We are doing our best to keep the market clean, but we need help. We urgently need a functional public toilet and a steady supply of sanitation materials to keep the environment safe and hygienic,” she stressed.
The lack of toilet facilities extends to the adjoining transport station, where similar frustrations have been voiced.
Mr. Joseph Nii Bonne Arthur, Secretary of the Madina-Adenta Central Drivers Committee, described the station’s sanitation conditions as a public health risk.
He explained that although a private company, Decobuild, was contracted by the former MCE and the Municipal Assembly to modernize the station, promised improvements—especially sanitation facilities—have not been delivered.
“There is not a single toilet facility within the lorry park, and there are no functioning handwashing facilities,” he said. “We live and work in filth and stench every day, yet the tolls we pay are not being used to address these basic issues.”
Nii Bonne Arthur revealed that drivers pay up to GH¢20 per load in tolls, while traders also contribute daily levies. However, there is still no access to clean water or decent sanitation facilities. Multiple complaints to Decobuild, he said, have gone unanswered, prompting the committee to petition the Municipal Assembly and other authorities for urgent intervention.
“We are not asking for luxury—just the basics. We need working toilets, regular cleaning, and access to water for handwashing. This is about health, dignity, and safety,” he stressed.
WASH conditions at Madina Market reflect a wider national issue, as many markets and transport terminals across Ghana face similar challenges.
Health risks
The poor sanitation and hygiene conditions in and around toilet facilities pose significant health risks, including the spread of diseases like cholera, malaria, and other waterborne illnesses.
Economic impact
The economic burden of treating sanitation-related diseases is substantial, with governments and households spending billions on healthcare for preventable illnesses.
It is on this note that executives and members of GWJN and CONIWAS are calling on municipal authorities, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, and private partners to take urgent action to improve sanitation at Madina Market and other public spaces nationwide.
The groups believe there is a pressing need for better sanitation infrastructure, including functional public toilets, regular cleaning, and reliable access to water for handwashing across markets in the country.
