Open Defecation Costs Ghana $79 Million Annually, Expert Reports

A Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) expert has revealed that approximately 5.4 million Ghanaians still practice open defecation. This figure represents 18 percent of the national population. Yaw Attah Arhin, a WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, made the disclosure. He also stated that this practice costs the nation an estimated $79 million every year. These costs stem from treating related health issues and from lost productivity. The lack of proper sanitation poses significant economic and public health challenges for the country.