Evaluation of Existing Sanitary Infrastructures Within the Kpone Township in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT

Background: Kpone is one of the major industrial towns in Ghana and its industrialization has led to increase in population and other business activities. The rapid growth in population is accompanied by increase in volume of waste generated from industrial and domestic activities each day, which has not been properly managed, leading to sanitation problems. Aims and objectives: This study was designed to assess sanitary infrastructures within Kpone Township. The specific objectives were to assess the availability of solid and liquid waste sanitary infrastructures in the study area and then ascertain the knowledge level and perceptions about sanitary infrastructure usage among the inhabitants. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study which made use of structured questionnaire and focused group discussion to obtain information from 500 household heads and 30 waste collection service providers respectively. Descriptive statistics such as tables, frequency and percentages were used to describe demographic characteristics of the study participants and factors which influence sanitary infrastructure in the study area. Results: All the respondents had fair knowledge and perception on good waste management practices; 56% lack waste bins at home; 57% resort to crude dumping or burning of refuse; 66% lack toilet facilities at home; 56% dispose of wastewater into open drains and 37% practice open defecation. Conclusion: The inadequacy of sanitary infrastructure resulted to crude methods of waste disposal in the study area. Increasing the number of household toilets through the GAMA sanitation program, provision of standard drainage network, improving access to solid waste collection facilities and services and enforcement of sanitation laws would improve sanitary infrastructure and help achieve a sound environmental health at Kpone.