Feaces Filth Culture

“Massa; yaaohiε heni odamɔ jεŋetsi” a Ga sentence that met me when I squatted at a secret seaside base at a La beach to do what seems to be the usual. La is one of the earliest settlements in Accra. It was established during the colonial era sharing boundaries with Osu, Cantonments and Teshie. Following the years of Accra's prosperity, Nkrumah's emphasis on the development of Accra and its immediate environs became a favored destination for job seeking migrants.

The phenomenon brought about the development of unplanned communities on the periphery of limits of Accra. Over the years these suburban areas were absorbed into the urban area of Accra and created a dichotomy between planned and unplanned settlements within the city.

Given the disproportionate rate of expansion of the city and provision of basic infrastructure and service, unplanned neighborhoods are characterized by poor road networks, poor drainage systems and insufficient water and electricity (Subsequent matters of discussion).

These developments have metamorphosed La Township into an unplanned settlement and for the purpose of this article, I limit my observation to the filth culture evince at La with no pillory; apparently most unplanned neighborhoods in the city typify such grimy deeds.

Relocating toLabadicouple of years ago met the frustration of the usual accommodation hurdle. All the same my slog settled for one which was not convenient because it lacked a decent place of convenience. My search revealed many households were without latrines however some considerable households had decent ones.

There are pockets of public lavatories at La township, most privately owned and cooperatives, some are particularly noted for their comic and humorous names (La 64 boys toilet, Lorgortueshie Zone Latrine, All shall pass public toilet) et al. Considering the number of public Loo or Power room (referred by guys eupheminically), my concern is “why the copious amount of excrement and refuses in the gutters, uncompleted building, seaside (beach) and other public and shared spaces?”

The provocative being the substantial and myriad ones pupils of La Emmausbasic school confront each morning' which exhausts valuable learning hours to clean.

My Curiosity led to find out the rationale behind this horrendous act and it reveals;

• Utmost being the lack of toilets/latrines in most homes

• Almost all public lavatories do not operate on a 24 hour basis

• Average cost of using the facility ranges from 40-50 Pesewa, which residents posit as costly

• Larger families i.e. households with many children perhaps cannot use the facility

• Open and unrestricted seaside, shared space and gutters

• Attitude and finally
• Almost all public lavatories do not operate 24hours

But should these aforementioned be the motives for the indiscriminate disposals? NO! Everyone will reason with me. I am convinced the wrongdoers have espoused that attitude as culture.

Ola Rotimi says: until the rotten tooth is pulled out the mouth must chew caution. As a people, should we continue to be adamant to such deplorable sanitary condition?

Authorities' inclusive rent control and the housing stakeholders should insist on toilet facilities in household.

ZigZiglar Says “your attitude not aptitude determines your Altitude.”

Jonas KwadjoSosou
[email protected]