Mahama Orders Assemblies to Withhold Building Permits Without Toilet Facilities

President John Dramani Mahama has directed all district assemblies across Ghana to withhold building permits from developers whose plans do not include adequate sanitation facilities. The move is a renewed push to eliminate open defecation, which remains a widespread health and environmental challenge. Speaking during the launch of Ghana’s Voluntary National Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the President emphasized that proper toilets must be included in all new residential, commercial, and public buildings.

Mahama criticized the continued practice of open defecation despite existing by-laws that mandate toilet facilities before permit approval. He urged local authorities to enforce these regulations strictly and end the culture of non-compliance. He described open defecation as not just a public health risk but an issue of human dignity and social equity. “In 2025, it is unacceptable that people still engage in what some jokingly call ‘free range,’” he said, adding that excuses such as enjoying the breeze while defecating should no longer be tolerated.