About 85 per cent of households in Jamestown does not have toilets inside their homes. Theatre group Act for Change is determined to use plays to stop people from defecating in the open.
Members of Act for Change will stage a performance that aims to educate the commuters in James Town and the public about open defecation.
The performance on the shores of Jamestown, a fishing community in Accra, talked about the negative effects of open defecation and about the need for landlords to build toilets.
Open defecation is the practice of attending nature’s call in bushes, at the beach, in drains, in plastic bags and dumpsites.
According to a survey, three out of five Ghanaians engage open defecation and the country was ranked second in Africa for the practice.
The country has plans to eradicate open defecation by 2025 and Goal 6 of the SDGs enjoins countries to ensure the availability of clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Jamestown, despite its massive potential in tourism because of its colonial architecture, is one of the poorest communities in the capital. The community’s challenges include sanitation problems, teenage pregnancy and unemployment.
Source: Evans Boateng
