No toilet, no building permit: Mahama directs MMDAs

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a firm directive to all district assemblies: reject any building application that does not include adequate toilet facilities.

This bold order comes as part of an intensified national push to eliminate open defecation—a long-standing public health and environmental hazard in parts of Ghana. 

Speaking at the launch of Ghana’s Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Mahama emphasized that the time for leniency is over.

“In 2025, it’s shocking that open defecation is still a reality in this country,” he said. “It’s not merely a sanitation issue—it’s about human dignity and fairness. The knowledge exists, the laws are there, but what’s lacking is the will to enforce and invest.”

He criticized the inconsistency between existing building by-laws and their enforcement. Despite regulations mandating sanitation facilities before a building permit is granted, open defecation remains widespread.

“All assemblies already have rules in place. So, how come structures are still going up without toilets?” he asked. With a mix of frustration and dark humor, he referenced how some people jokingly describe open defecation as enjoying “natural air conditioning.”

Mahama called on local authorities to end the laxity and uphold the law. “This is your job,” he told assembly officials. “No toilets, no permit. Enforce it, and let’s restore some dignity to our communities.”