Open the doors to dignity: It’s backward to keep public washrooms under lock and key

Imagine the indignity, the sheer frustration, of being in public and desperately needing a washroom, only to be confronted by a locked door.

Picture Dufie, a stand-in for any of us, urgently seeking relief in the heart of Accra, approaching a seemingly public building with hope—only to be met with the cold reality of inaccessibility.

“The key is with someone else,” or worse, “This washroom is only for staff use,” she is told.

Forced to choose between discomfort and the questionable privacy of nearby bushes, Dufie’s experience is a stark, everyday reality for countless Ghanaians.

These locked washrooms, seemingly a minor inconvenience, are a symbol of a deeper societal failing—a barrier to public health, a violation of human dignity, and a clear abdication of the state’s responsibility to its citizens.

As a concerned citizen and someone who understands the legal framework that should protect us, I argue that it is not just inconvenient, but both legally and morally imperative that Ghana unlocks its public washrooms.

This isn’t simply about comfort; it’s about the fundamental health of the citizens of our nation.

Our Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851) mandates the promotion of environmental health and sanitation—a duty directly contravened by the pervasive inaccessibility of public washrooms.

When these essential facilities are locked, where are people supposed to go? The grim answer is often open drains, streets, and bushes—breeding grounds for diseases like cholera, typhoid, and other persistent illnesses.

Statistics from organisations like the WHO and UNICEF consistently highlight the link between poor sanitation and the prevalence of these diseases in Ghana.

Consider also the growing number of Ghanaians facing kidney and prostate issues—conditions exacerbated by inadequate access to sanitation.

For these vulnerable individuals, accessible washrooms are not a convenience, but a critical health necessity.

By locking these facilities, we are, in effect, locking the door on public health, straining our healthcare system, and hindering our nation’s progress.

The state’s obligation to safeguard and promote health, sanitation, and the environment is directly undermined by this practice.

Beyond the tangible health risks, the locked washroom strikes at the very heart of human dignity. Our Constitution, in Article 15(1), boldly proclaims that “the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable.”

Is it dignified to beg for a key to perform a natural bodily function? Is it dignified to be forced to relieve oneself in the open because public facilities are locked away?

International human rights norms, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, reinforce this principle—emphasising the right to dignity and an adequate standard of living, which implicitly includes access to sanitation.

A progressive interpretation of Article 15(1) must therefore include access to basic sanitation facilities in public spaces as essential for upholding human dignity.

Locking public washrooms normalises indecency, sending a damaging message that basic human needs are not a priority in our public spaces and eroding the very dignity our Constitution seeks to protect.

The responsibility for providing and maintaining these essential amenities rests squarely with our local authorities and individual members of the community.

The widespread locking of public washrooms, particularly in state institutions within these districts, represents a clear dereliction of this statutory duty.

While concerns about maintenance and resources are often cited, these are challenges to be overcome—not excuses for inaction.

The “no maintenance culture” argument is a fallacy we have convinced ourselves of. No country inherently has a maintenance culture. What they do have is a maintenance budget and maintenance personnel.

Effective maintenance is a product of planning, budgeting, and responsible management—not cultural traits. As other nations demonstrate, maintenance is achieved through dedicated budgets and personnel—a model Ghana can and should adopt.

A pragmatic solution, aligned with local governance principles, would be to implement nominal user fees, generating revenue specifically for washroom upkeep and employing attendants, ensuring both accessibility and sustainability.

Furthermore, the environmental consequences of locked washrooms cannot be ignored.

Open defecation and urination, often the direct result of inaccessibility, contribute to public nuisance and environmental degradation, directly contradicting the mandate of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490).

These practices pollute water sources, contaminate land, and undermine Ghana’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.

Accessible public washrooms are therefore crucial for both public health and environmental stewardship.

Addressing concerns about maintenance, security, and costs requires pragmatic solutions—not locked doors. Robust design, community involvement, and dedicated security measures can mitigate safety and operational risks.

The commercialisation model, coupled with public-private partnerships, offers a viable and sustainable path forward.

The cost of inaction—in healthcare expenses, lost productivity, environmental damage, and eroded dignity—far outweighs the investment in accessible public washrooms.

Therefore, as concerned citizens grounded in both moral and legal arguments, we call for urgent and decisive action.

We implore the government—particularly the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the EPA—to enact a national policy mandating accessible public washrooms in all state-owned and publicly accessible buildings.

This policy must establish clear guidelines for design, maintenance, security, and sustainable funding mechanisms.

Let us move beyond excuses and embrace solutions. It is time to unlock these essential facilities, to open the doors to dignity, to improved public health, to a cleaner environment, and a more just and equitable Ghana for all—because it is simply backward to keep public washrooms under lock and key.

This is not just about washrooms—it’s about our collective commitment to a nation where basic human needs are met with respect and dignity, a commitment grounded in both the laws we uphold and the values we cherish.

Let us demand that the state fulfil its duty, unlock the doors to dignity, and ensure accessible public washrooms for every Ghanaian—now.

Co-authored by:
Kwasi Kwarteng
Victoria Manza
Enyima Homiah