Denu, Aug. 5, GNA - The Ketu South District Assembly raked in 29,

641 Ghana cedis revenue from public toilets last year, a 161.38 per cent

increase over the 11, 340 Ghana cedis made in 2008 as measures

instituted to block leakages and stealing paid off.

Mr. John Kwadzo Addy, the District Finance Officer, told the GNA that

through effective reform, huge revenue could be made from the 78 public

toilets in the area.

"Elimination of all revenue loopholes, improving on the accounting

procedures and supervision of toilet managements are part of the

strategies we took", he said.

Mr Addy said managements of the toilets were reviewed and

collections were directly paid to the Assembly's Revenue Office and not

to be handed over to any staff or official of the Assembly to pay in.

He said the 16-seat water closet toilet behind the public transport

terminal at Aflao, for instance, collects 800 Ghana cedis per week

compared to about 500 Ghana cedis previously.

Mr Addy said an important component of the Assembly's Toilet

Management Strategy to promote and enforce good hygiene to ensure

user and environmental safety, aside the revenue benefit, would be

rolled out soon.

Mr. Addy said private commercial toilets would be covered under this

scheme for supervision to ensure they conform to health standards with

those failing risking closure.

He said private toilets would also be made to pay some rates to the

Assembly while new guidelines would have to be followed in the

construction of private toilets.