Environmental Sanitation Policy 1999,

The present Environmental Sanitation Policy lays the basis for developing a systematic approach and framework for identifying and harnessing resources for value-for-money services to all. Emphasis is placed on the need to ensure systematic collection of data on wastes from all sectors of the economy to support relevant research and development to meet the challenges of managing wastes associated with the growing economy and rapidly changing lifestyles. The Policy supports building partnership both at international and local levels and with the private sector within an expanded network of actors through effective public sector facilitation and coordination. Part 1 establishes the current context and situation of environmental sanitation in Ghana. It also covers national development priorities, and broad principles guiding policy formulation.
Part 2 which is the core of the Policy identifies the main challenges and constraints of the sector and draws objectives as well as actions and measures, to meet the challenges while adhering to basic principles. In particular, the basic elements of a strategy to respond to the objectives and problems and to promote accelerated development of the sector include: a) Formal establishment of environmental sanitation as a sub-sector within the national development programme; b) Rationalisation of institutional objectives and functions at all levels, including delineation of responsibilities and the establishment of inter-agency linkages; c) Establishment of a National Environmental Sanitation Policy Coordination Council within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; d) Establishment of a National Environmental Sanitation Day to be observed one day in a year by all citizens; e) Development and strengthening of the community's role in environmental sanitation; f) Development of human resources and strengthening institutional structures for managing environmental sanitation; g) Assigning delivery of a major proportion of environmental sanitation services to the private sector through contract, franchise, concession and other arrangements; h) Development of a strong legislative and regulatory framework, and capacity for supervising environmental sanitation activities and enforcing standards; (i) Promotion of research to review sanitation technologies; (j) Identification and dissemination of cost-effective, appropriate, affordable and environmentally friendly technologies to address environmental sanitation needs; k) Adoption of the cost recovery principle in the planning and management of environmental sanitation services.
By adopting the above strategies it is intended that by the year 2020 the following should have been achieved: a) National Environmental Sanitation Day is established by legislation and observed regularly; b) The National Environmental Sanitation Policy Co-ordination Council is established within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; c) Environmental sanitation technologies are under regular review and continuous improvement; d) All solid wastes generated in urban areas are regularly collected and disposed of in adequately controlled landfills or by other environmentally acceptable means; e) All excreta are disposed of either in hygienic on-site disposal systems or by hygienic collection, treatment and off-site disposal systems; f) All pan latrines are phased out (by 2010); g) At least 90% of the population has access to an acceptable domestic toilet and the remaining 10% has access to hygienic public toilets; h) Hygienic public toilets are provided for the transient population in all areas of intense public activity; i) Active sanitary inspection and vector control programmes are in place and the incidence of malaria, bilharzia and other vector-borne diseases is falling; j) Environmental standards regulations are strictly observed and enforced; k) The majority of environmental sanitation services are provided by the private sector.