Poor sanitation costs Ghana over GH¢6.2bn annually, ISSER warns
Ghana is losing more than GH¢6.2 billion each year to diseases, healthcare expenses and lost productivity linked to poor sanitation, according to a policy brief by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER).
The report estimates that while Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) spent about GH¢180.2 million on waste management and sanitation, the country continues to incur far greater losses from the consequences of inadequate waste disposal and environmental health systems.
Researchers say poor sanitation is costing Ghana approximately GH¢5.58 billion in medical expenses and an additional GH¢650 million in lost productivity annually, largely due to preventable illnesses such as malaria, cholera and typhoid.
ISSER estimates that sanitation-related diseases result in about 31.9 million lost work and school days each year and contribute to more than 107,000 premature deaths.
Rather than treating sanitation as merely an environmental or social issue, the researchers argue that it should be viewed as an economic investment. They contend that the cost of failing to invest in proper waste management far exceeds the resources needed to improve sanitation infrastructure.
The report points to rapid urbanisation, population growth and increasing waste generation as factors stretching the capacity of local authorities, particularly in urban and peri-urban communities.
To address the problem, ISSER is calling for increased investment in sanitation, drainage and environmental health systems, with a focus on high-risk communities, including densely populated settlements and flood-prone areas.
The researchers also recommend eliminating open refuse dumps and improving faecal sludge management, arguing that such interventions could significantly reduce disease outbreaks, mortality and productivity losses.
According to ISSER, Ghana’s current spending on waste management remains far below international benchmarks, highlighting a financing gap that continues to undermine efforts to improve sanitation outcomes.
The report concludes that investing in sanitation is no longer optional, warning that the country will continue to pay a heavy economic price if preventive measures are not prioritised.
Source: CNR
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