Over 5,000 people participate in the World's Longest Toilet Queue in Ghana

Students DA-AWATUL Islamic Primary School and the Lartebiokoshie 2&3 Basic School form a symbolic queue.

Credit: WaterAid

7 April 2010

WaterAid in Ghana took part in The World Longest Toilet Queue campaign on 20-22 March 2010. In all, over 5,000 people in 13 districts in 7 out of the 10 regions of Ghana participated in queues organised by WaterAid and its partners in Konta, Zagyuri, Shea, Dapora, Kayera, Obom, Mpraeso, Sabon Zongo, Ashiaman, Mayra, Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Sunyani.

In Konta, a suburb of Wa, Pronet North organised a queue at the community's only public toilet. According to Martin Dery, Pronet North's Programme Director, queuing to go to toilet is a daily occurrence in the community. He said "for the 132 participants we had today, the World Longest Toilet Queue was not just an event, but a daily routine, where the residents including pregnant women have to wait for up to 15 minutes every morning for their turn to use the only public toilet that serves the entire community. This is unacceptable. People need toilets in their homes."

Students DA-AWATUL Islamic Primary and the Lartebiokoshie 2&3 Basic
School in a queue

The climax of the World's Longest Toilet Queue was in Ashaiman, an urban poor community, where 2,015 students and residents stood in line to demand real progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal on water and sanitation. The event was held under the theme, 'Basic Sanitation and Clean Water Now'. Whiles standing in line for toilets, the students also raised cups to ask for clean water in their schools.

Addressing the gathering, the Acting Country Representative of WaterAid Ghana, Mrs Angela Peasah, explained how the campaign is essential as there are many communities without toilets and as a result people defecate in the open (in Ghana around 20% of the population defecate in the open) which increases the risk of health problems.

Reading a statement on behalf children in the community, Deborah Acquah of the Church of Christ School Complex said most school children in Ghana do not have access to clean water and safe sanitation. She called on government to prioritise sanitation and water:

"Our call to government is but a simple request: 'please give us basic sanitation & clean water NOW'. We want government to recognise that access to sanitation and water is a fundamental human right and should be prioritised as essential services alongside health and education, so that we can study well."

View more pictures of the World Longest Toilet Queue in Ghana on Flickr (opens in a new window)