By Gifty Amofa
Accra, Aug. 8, GNA – Traders and drivers at the Madina Market and lorry station have called on the Municipal Assembly to provide them with decent toilet facilities within their area of work.
Madam Eunice Quaco, Secretary of the Market, who made the appeal, said the public toilets that market women and buyers alike used had broken down.
The Secretary made the appeal when members of the Ghana Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Journalists’ Network (GWJN) in conjunction with
Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) went to assess sanitation situation at public places to commemorate Ghana WASH Week 2025.
It was part of the week-long activities.
She said they would now have to resort to private ones, which are expensive as compared to those government authorities provided some time ago.
She prayed that faulty toilet facilities which were out of use be repaired or new ones built to ease burden on sellers and buyers.
Asked why they did not have hand washing facilities at vantage points in
order to wash their hands frequently before serving buyers, she said after COVID-19 the hand washing facility (Veronica bucket) had been packed.
She called on the managers of the place, especially the assembly to help restore the hand washing facility, including the provision of paper tissue, soap and water to help avert any dirt related disease.
Madam Irene Dadzie, a market woman, was worried about the distance they had to travel to ease themselves.
She pleaded with the government to restore the toilets in the market which was not only affordable but closer to users and would also compensate for the tolls paid.
She said whenever there was water shortage the places of convenience had to be locked.
Mr Oko Doe, a driver who spoke with the team, said drivers paid a huge “pay as you load” fee and expected those facilities to be in place but to no avail.
During the visit, the team found out the broken toilets both old and new some of which were an eye sore as some traders sold around it.
Not all of the private ones were up to standard as they were not properly kept coupled with a strong stench from the human waste as well as the strong scented detergents which were not healthy for those around.
The one that stood out is at Plateau Shopping Centre which is well kept by all standards but far from the main market and the lorry station.
Mr David Katey, the caretaker, said the secret to the neat toilet facility was having enough water, adding that with the continuous flow of water, the place is cleaned four to five times daily.
To avoid water shortage, a borehole had been dug for that purpose and more importantly, used carefully chosen detergents, he said.
Decorbuilt, managers of the Madina, Somanya Kpong-Juapong branch of
Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) lorry station, said the washroom facility was in their plan and would soon be implemented.
Mr Joseph Nii Bonne Arthur, Secretary to GPRTU of TUC, appealed to the Assembly to help provide sheds for passengers to help protect them from harsh weather conditions as they wait to board vehicles.
GNA
Christian Akorlie