Sepue Bathroom Project – Ghana
This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION.
Sepue is a small village located in the Akuapem North district of Ghana between Berekuso and Kwabenya, with a population of about 3,100. Farming is the main occupation of the people. They grow crops such as pineapple, sugar cane, plantain, banana, yam, cassava, cocoyam and corn. Some foods eaten by the people of Sepue are kenkey, banku, fufu, ampesi and konkonte.
The village has no market, electricity, health facility or school. The people walk about 30 to 40 minutes to a nearby town to get access to education and health needs. Public transportation is sometimes accessible. The people living in this area of the district are mostly Ga and Akuapem.
In 2014 an aspiring member of parliament promised and started a new toilet facility for the people of Sepue during a campaign. A pit, measuring about 10 x 16 feet and a building foundation, were dug, but left unfinished for the past 4 years. The candidate lost the election and the project failed.
The community now uses an open old toilet facility built out of palm branches and sticks, with no division for use by males and females. Since this is located in the bush, and is not well-structured or positioned, snakes and other animals are seen inside and around toilet. In 2014, a 4-year-old boy was knocked down by a motor bike after fleeing a snake.
Open defecation causes widespread illness through transmission by flies, and the children usually relieve themselves into containers or plastic bags.
– The old pit will be re-shaped and formed.
– Blocks will be laid from the bottom of the pit to height of 12 feet.
– The bottom of the pit will then be cemented and concreted on the upper opening using iron rods.
– The structure then will be divided into two sections ( front and back). Both front and back side will be divided into 6 sections to enable the facility to serve 6 males and 6 females at the same time.
– Raised laid blocks will then be plastered from the bottom to the upper structure.
– Wooden structures will then be formed.
– Zinc roofing then comes on top.
– Toilet seats will be installed.
– Doors will be repaired.
– Ventilation pipes will be installed.
– The building will be painted.
– The water tank will be installed and connected to the facility.
– A handwashing station will be provided.
– The facility will be inaugurated and handed over to the community.
3,100 people will benefit from the project.
The project will be implemented under the direction of Nana Kudjoe Kesse, Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer of H2O Africa Care. In working with Water Charity, Nana previously completed many borehole and bathroom projects.
We are grateful to Solomon Amuzu, of Call to Nature Permaculture, who is providing additional assistance and oversight.
Monitoring and Maintenance
After the project implementation, the H2O Africa Care team will provide monitoring for 6 months and then hand over the facility to the community.
The elders of the community will elect 5 members of the village who will run and provide maintenance for the facility. There will be regular cleaning of the facility by men and women of the village.
The funding for this project has been provided by an anonymous donor.