Residents of Atwima Yabi in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region are facing a mounting health and safety crisis, with many forced to resort to open defecation due to a lack of functional toilet facilities.
Speaking to Nhyira News, female residents said they are particularly vulnerable, with some falling prey to young men who plant hidden cameras in the bushes to invade their privacy and extort money.
Akua Konadu, a mobile-money vendor, described the dire situation: “Some of the youth, especially the males, go to the bush to relieve themselves, while the females use polythene bags in open spots and then dispose them off in the bush.”
Residents report that the community has endured this practice for the past eight years, with serious health implications. Francis Osei noted that many living near the latrine have contracted cholera, malaria, and other sanitation-related diseases. “The situation is dire. The smell from the toilet facility is unbearable, and it’s not just a nuisance; it’s a health hazard,” he said.
Ama Pomaah described the social stigma the community faces, adding, “During occasions when visitors come and ask to use a toilet, we have to point them to the bush because our current facility is unusable. It’s embarrassing, and it makes us feel less human.”
The Assembly Member for the Yabi‑Akosobo Electoral Area, Solomon Owusu Antwi, confirmed the residents’ concerns and said a functional public latrine remains essential, even for households with private toilets. He urged government agencies, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations to step in. “The dilapidated public toilet facility is making life unbearable in the community,” he said, noting that the District Assembly has yet to respond to earlier appeals for intervention.
Residents of Atwima Yabi say the need for a modern, safe, and accessible toilet facility is urgent as the community continues to grow, warning that without immediate action, both health and privacy risks will only escalate.
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