Kumasi residents lament increase in commercial toilet facilities

There has been a massive public outcry in the Ashanti region following recent increments in charges associated with accessing commercial toilet facilities.

With many households and slums, largely dependent on public toilet facilities, managers of these facilities insist that they have resorted to the increase due to the recent hikes in various items in the country.

Despite persistent calls for various households to have toilet facilities, the reality is that many Ghanaians depend on public options. Apart from the usual challenges like long queues and hygiene concerns, the increased fee is now a major burden for regular users.

The operation of these toilet facilities has thus become a lucrative business for many, especially in urban areas where there is an increase in population.

In the Ashanti region, specifically within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan area, places such as Aboabo, Oforikrom, Ayigya Zongo, Dagomba Line, Ashanti New Town (Ash Town), and many slum areas rely heavily on commercial toilet facilities.

The recent increase in charges by commercial toilet operators has sparked significant public outcry.

In an interview with Citi News, some users shared their predicament, stating the impact of the increment.

Akwasi Acheampong, said, “It used to be 1.50p, but now it’s 2.00. We have no choice but to pay to use the facility. However, our businesses are not generating enough revenue, so we are pleading for intervention.”

“Prices of things are too high, so we are pleading for a reduction in prices. We would appreciate it if the managers reverted to the old prices. Now you cannot even afford to pay a toilet fee for someone,” Emmanuel Agyei, another patron said.

Osei Thomas, a patron, lamented, “I thought it was still 1.00 until today when I was told it is now 2.00. It is quite disturbing, but we have no option but to pay.”

The owners of these facilities said they have been compelled to increase the prices because the facilities have become expensive to manage in recent times.

Chairman, of Ashanti Regional Sanitation Awareness Association who doubles as the owner of commercial toilet facilities, Owusu Takyi said, “The vehicle that was dislodging our waste, initially they were taking GHC800 but they have increased their price to GHC1,200, look at the margin.

“If we fail to pay that fee, we will be forced to close down that business. Because our workers are demanding for increment, the cost of repairs and maintenance, the cost of electricity has increased. It all boils down to the nature of the economy, everything is expensive. We can’t run a business and be making losses, that is why we decided to increase prices to enable us to stay in business.”

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