There was uproar at the infant Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) near Tema when angry National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters descended on the facility seeking the transfer of the ownership of public toilets in the sprawling township. Frightened staff of the assembly went on an indefinite strike for fear of being manhandled.

Their action, laced with noisy singing of war songs, was a replication of what has come to be known as the NDC toilet coup. One of the features of the assumption of power by President John Evans Atta Mills on 7 January 2009 has been the seizure of public toilets across the country. The toilets, which had been handed over to contractors a few years ago are considered to be goldmines and NDC supporters think with the swing in the pendulum of power in the country, they too should partake in the pie. A day after Mills was sworn into office, a group of young men, allegedly from the camp of the NDC, took over the Mallam Tunga public toilet in the Ga West District Assembly.

Source: Razak Mardorgyz, Ashaiman, Daily Guide,12 Feb 2009; Nathaniel Y.Yankson, Daily Guide, 10 Feb 2009

Tags: africa, financing, on-site sanitation, policies & legislation