UNICEF Calls for Sustained Investment in WASH as Ghana Marks 2025 World Toilet Day

As Ghana joined the global community to commemorate 2025 World Toilet Day, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has called for renewed commitment to sanitation, describing it as a fundamental human right that must be accessible to every individual.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s celebration, at a news conference by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, on 19th November 2025 in Accra, UNICEF’s Representative Madam Korama Ocran stressed that sanitation should never be viewed as a privilege but as a necessity required for dignity, safety, and healthy living.
She revealed that the world’s rapidly growing population estimated at 3.5 billion people together with the accelerating impacts of climate change, continues to mount enormous pressure on global environmental health and sanitation systems. According to her, the consequences of inadequate sanitation are most severe for women and children, who remain disproportionately exposed to health and safety risks due to the lack of proper toilet facilities.
Madam Ocran therefore called on government to prioritize sustained investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects, describing sanitation interventions as life-saving and essential for community resilience.
She further appealed to the media to intensify advocacy on sanitation, champion national conversations on hygiene, and support behavioral change campaigns. Communities were also encouraged to actively participate in efforts to make Ghana an Open Defecation Free (ODF) country through improved household sanitation and responsible environmental practices.
The 2025 World Toilet Day celebration reinforces the urgent need for collaborative action from policymakers, the private sector, development partners, and citizens to ensure that every Ghanaian enjoys access to safe, dignified, and sustainable sanitation services.
Source: Chantal Aidoo
Public Relations Unit, MLGCRA