ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY LED TOTAL SANITATION PROGRAMME AS AN INNOVATION TO ENDING OPEN DEFECATION IN THE KUMBUNGU DISTRICT AREA OF GHANA

Abstract

This thesis assesses the impact of CLTS programme as an innovation to ending open defecation in the Kumbungu District area of Ghana. The research sampled respondents using purposive sampling and convenience sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using questionnaire, observation and field notes. Major findings in the study revealed that; latrines are simply lacking and the few which are there are either poorly taken care of or over shared with several households with its attended possibility of increasing sanitation related diseases if proper maintenance of such latrines is not taken serious. Research has also established that evidence of knowledge of safe ways of disposal is there but such knowledge is too scanty and leads to poor adherence to precautions by adults to safe regulations and expert advice to safe child - stool handling. Sanitation situation in the households and community has improved positively since the last two years ie (from 2014 - 2016) translated into reduction of incidence of sanitation related diseases. Lastly, numerous efforts have also been employed by the communities and households to improve sanitation with regards to the ending of open defecation. The study recommends that, the District Assembly should work hand in hand with the District environmental office to come out with sanitation models which will have household heads supporting the construction of latrines in their home without necessarily giving out physical cash i.e.; digging the pits or doing some labor work in the construction process so that they are able to own the projects. With the current wave of environmental awareness, many non-governmental organizations are in the system helping communities to construct very affordable in-house latrines. Such NGOs should be wooed to the area to help in bridging the latrine deficit i.e., SNV. The community heads through their development agents should collaborate with Kumbungu District Assembly and other stake holders in the sanitation sector to institute some bye-laws and making the construction of latrines in the new houses springing up in the study area compulsory and enforcing same. Again, the district assembly can equally include in the bye-laws some time lines for the existing households to construct latrines in them and indicating fines that will be meted to household heads who will default at the end of the day. All public institution within the study area must make the construction of place of convenience (toilet) their responsibility before they commence operation. The environmental and sanitation officers in the study area should up their work to insure every house will at least dig and always bury their refuse to make the environment clean.