President John Dramani Mahama's declaration that "it is unacceptable that in 2025, open defecation persists in parts of Ghana" is a stark reminder of one of the country’s most persistent public health and development challenges. Speaking at the launch of Ghana's 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President Mahama called for a firm crackdown on building permits issued without toilet facilities, arguing that the country’s sanitation crisis is less about awareness and more about gaps in investment, enforcement, and community engagement.
