Residents of Apo in the Shama municipality of the Western region are being exposed to serious public health risks after the assembly member for the area, Ebenezer Amoquandoh, allegedly locked up the community’s only public toilet facility over a disagreement involving GH¢100.
The facility, heavily relied upon by hundreds of residents and neighbouring users, has reportedly remained shut for close to three weeks, forcing many to resort to open defecation at the beach and around sea defence areas — a development residents fear could trigger an outbreak of communicable diseases if the situation persists.
The assembly member, Mr. Amoquandoh, is alleged to have barricaded the facility’s entrances with wooden planks after the caretaker, Auntie Araba Essoun, used part of the facility’s proceeds to purchase toilet rolls and other essential sanitation items.
Narrating the circumstances leading to the closure, Auntie Essoun explained that under their arrangement, she is required to pay the assembly member Ghc400 weekly, amounting to Ghc1,600 monthly, while also ensuring the facility remains clean and stocked with toiletries and detergents.
According to her, she has consistently honoured the arrangement over the years despite increasingly difficult working conditions.
“I have over the years honoured this arrangement unfailingly. But recently, I have had to dig deep to pay the amount and still make enough to buy other essentials,” she said.
She further alleged that the burden of maintaining hygienic conditions at the facility has largely fallen on her, often at personal cost.
“All the assembly member cares about is the money and nothing else. He is not bothered whether there is toilet roll, detergents or water. Sometimes, I have to work without gloves or nose masks under extremely unhygienic conditions, even to the detriment of my own health,” she claimed.
Auntie Essoun said her earnings from the arrangement amount to only Ghc300 at the end of the month, portions of which she occasionally uses to purchase supplies for the facility.
She alleged that tensions escalated three weeks ago after she used Ghc100 from the proceeds to buy toilet rolls, leaving her with Ghc300 to hand over to the assembly member.
“When it was time for him to collect the money, I explained that I had used Ghc100 to buy toilet rolls and pleaded with him for some time to top up the balance. But he insisted on taking the full amount and later locked up the place,” she recounted.
The closure has since left residents stranded, particularly during early mornings and evenings when demand for the facility peaks.
“You should see the number of people who come here only to realise the place is locked. One time, someone soiled himself because he thought the facility was open,” she added.
Residents say the continued closure of the toilet facility is not only causing inconvenience but also creating unsanitary conditions that threaten the health and safety of the entire community.
When contacted, Assembly member Ebenezer Amoquandoh confirmed locking the toilet facility adding he took the action over the caretaker’s inability to manage it to the benefit of the community.
“The caretaker has offering poor account. She’s unable to pay the daily amount of Ghc50. It’s turns into a fight anytime my unit committee member goes there to collect the money. I’ve also had a number of complaints from residents about her worrying human relationship. It is the monies we collect that we use to keep the place running. Once she is not able to account well, the only thing left is for a decision to be taken to safeguard the facility…”
He admitted that he took the action without the knowledge of the assembly.
“…the facility came about on the magnanimity of the former CEO of Lower Pra Rural Bank. The community has been managing it over the years independently. So, I’m not sure informing the assembly will be prudent in any way.”
The assembly member assured he is working diligently to get the place running again, in the coming days – after fixing, a new collection kiosk, a broken culvert, emptying the septic tank and a new caretaker.
In a Facebook response, Municipal Chief Executive Paul Otis Dentu confirmed that the matter had not yet come to the attention of the assembly.
Meanwhile, frustrated residents continue to resort to unsafe and unhygienic alternatives as calls grow for urgent intervention to reopen the facility and avert a looming sanitation crisis.
Eric Yaw Adjei
