During a recent trip to Ghana with a German friend of mine, he observed that Ghanaians especially men were engaged in rampant acts of open urination in the country, and he felt that this was a disincentive to tourism in Ghana. After personal observation, I realized that what my friend was saying was indeed correct. In fact I had a personal experience shortly thereafter in which I observed two guys urinating near the road in front of Golden Tulip Accra, and it dawned on me as to how brave and indiscipline some Ghanaian men are such that they do not even care about where they stand to display their “guns” to urinate.



Remember that the road in front of Golden Tulip is supposed to be a ceremonial road in Accra, and one of the first major roads one encounters upon entry into Ghana from the airport. So for such indiscipline conduct to be exhibited by men on such a major road and on many other roads across Ghana is very shameful indeed.

A critical observation that one can make in a related context is that Ghanaian women are largely much disciplined and go to great lengths to look for private places to urinate when pressed to do so by nature. Indeed, it is very rare to see women urinate publicly in Ghana as opposed to what one observes the men do rampantly in this regard, even though both sexes face the same challenges when pressed to urinate.



We should all salute our women and the lesson in discipline that they daily exhibit to our men on this issue. The fact that there are not enough public toilets in Ghana is no excuse, because our women face the same challenge. Neither can we say that the men have weaker bladders than the women. There is therefore absolutely no excuse for any man to urinate in full glare of the public such as occurs rampantly in Ghana. It is simply a shear act of indiscipline and disorderly conduct that needs to be checked, discouraged and punished by society and authorities.



In a related context, is there any justification for allowing hawking on that ceremonial road in front of Golden Tulip and Flagstaff House? Are the Mayor of Accra and the Minister of Local Government saying that they can not clear hawkers on the first major road that one sees upon entering Ghana from the airport? Is the Mayor saying that he is incapable of keeping the road near the Presidency free of hawkers?

The hawkers may be permitted to sell anywhere else but not on this ceremonial road. Wake up Mr. Mayor! And what about the condition of this road. It is wobbly and in bad shape at various points. Wake up too Mr. Minister for Roads and Highways. Or do they want the President to solve these problems too himself?



Remember that, cleanliness is next to Godliness and therefore let us all help campaign against the spread of Cholera, Ebola and other unhygienic diseases.

Together, we shall contribute to make our nation great and strong.

Long live Ghana.

Report by: Mensah Dekportor (Hamburg)

Email: cmdekportor@gmail.com