Faecal sludge management in Madina, Ghana

Improved sanitation offers the opportunity to save the lives of millions of children (and adults alike) who would have succumbed to diarrhoea and other sanitation related diseases. One important component of sanitation management is Faecal Sludge Management which includes management of entire faecal sludge (FS) systems, on-site sanitation and services, as well as costing, economics, FS collection and haulage, FS treatment and Reuse or disposal of FS.

This paper presents and discusses FS management arrangements in residential areas and basic schools at Madina in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Results from the study showed that excreta from only Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine (KVIP) and Water Closet (WC) with septic tanks were collected and treated. The excreta from household bucket latrines, pit latrines and Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines (VIPs) were manually collected and discharged untreated into open drains, in the bush or in water bodies.

Householders were spending too much on cost of disposal of sludge whiles schools had difficulties funding the management of FS. There was weak regulatory framework and subsequent weak enforcement of sanitation bye-laws. The study concludes that stronger political will is vital for effective faecal sludge management.