Assessment of Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in Ghana: A Case Study of Ketu South Municipality

Abstract

Inadequate access to potable water is a major problem confronting most societies and countries worldwide. The availability to adequate and safe water and the provision of sanitation facilities is widely recognized to help improve public health. In the study area, the Ketu Municipal of Ghana, groundwater (hand-dug-wells and boreholes) is the main source of water supply for domestic use. In view of the dangers associated with contaminated water for consumption hence the objective of the study is to assess water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in Ketu South municipality of Ghana using appropriate standard techniques. From the survey, about 34% of the respondents without household toilet admitted that they go to the seashore to defecate as an alternative source of convenience. About 44% of them had unimproved toilets at home or in their neighbourhood. Besides, 43% of the respondents have uncontrolled refuse dump sited at their backyards whiles 20% open defecation in the bush. Based on the findings, some recommendations are made. These include more public education on environmental sanitation.