The Upper East Region recorded the highest open defecation in Ghana with a percentage of 74.7 according to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) of 2014.

This was revealed in Bolgatanga at the commemoration of the 2016 World Toilet Day with the theme: “Stop open defecation, own a household toilet now”.

According to the DHS, out of four people in the Upper East Region, three defecate outside due to lack of toilet facilities in many homes in the region.

In 2011, nine out of ten people in the region defecates openly but between 2011 and 2015 the rate has reduced by 15%.

The open defecation in the region is done in bushes, gutters, banks of water bodies, into polythene bags, behind people houses and available open places.

This activity, according to sanitation experts is due to high level poverty and ignorance in the region.

The Deputy Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate at the Ministry of Local Government, Cosmas Kambozie said landlords should go the extra mile to have toilets in their houses to end open defecation.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Albert Abongo reiterated the need for landlords to provide improved sanitation facilities in their houses.

He also pledged government’s readiness in reducing the high rate of open defecation in the region by bringing out policies that will enhance household sanitation in the region.

The Upper East Regional Focal Person on Sanitation, Asayure Juventus outlined the efforts his outfit is making in educating residents on open defecation and its related consequences.

He is hopeful the region will end open defecation in 2029 based on the drop in percentage since 2011.

According to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, landlords need between GHC2,000 to GHC 4,000 to construct a good toilet in their houses.