On the 19^th of November 2022, the World Toilet Day and Celebration of Open Defecation Free (ODF) were observed at Mawuli Estate, Ho by the Ho Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Regional Environmental Health Office, and Development Partners and Collaborators in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

UNICEF Ghana with funding from the Kingdom of the Netherlands has supported the government of Ghana (GoG) to develop a National Strategy for Urban Sanitation through the Implementation of Urban Sanitation Project (USP) in three (3) well-selected areas namely; Ashaiman Municipal in the Greater Accra Region, Ho Municipal in the Volta Region and Tamale Metropolitan in the Northern Region.  The implementation of the project started in 2015 to 2019. However, it was extended to December, 2021. In the Volta Region, the project was designed to cover Sokode and Ho Zonal Councils with 45,150 population.  It also covers 16 Electoral Areas made up of 7, 525 Households. According to the baseline survey, the Urban Sanitation Project must be implemented in 25 communities within Urban Sector of Ho Municipal. The Management of Ho Municipal Assembly was to facilitate construction of 7,525 Household Latrines and institutional toilets in 12 Basic Schools.

The 2022 World Toilet Day commemoration in the Volta Region coincided with the first Urban ODF Celebration of Mawuli Estate Sanitation Committee in Ho. The occasion was unique, for Mawuli Estate was the only Urban Community who attained the Urban ODF status in the Volta Region through hard work, determination and commitment.  EDSAM Social Network and Ho Municipal Assembly which jointly facilitated the implementation of the project maintained that the Urban Sanitation journey was challenging. However, Mawuli Estate was able to overcome the challenges.

In a speech delivered by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, he congratulated the community members of Mawuli Estate on the great feat and entreated them to sustain the success chalked. 

On her part, the Regional Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Stella Kumedzro reminded participants besides the Mawuli Estate Community members to own household latrines and avoid open defecation. She added that good health could be ensured through good hygiene and sanitation practices.

The Representatives of UNICEF who participated in the celebration reminded the people of Mawuli Estate to continue with their good work. 

The celebration was used to present ODF Certificate to Mawuli Estate Sanitation Committee. Following the end of the celebration, a team made up of stakeholders who participated in the celebration visited Gloekope near Akrofu in the Ho Municipality to ascertain the progress of work on the construction of a Fecal Sludge Treatment Bed funded by UNICEF. The Bed is being constructed by a private waste management company known as Jekora Ventures Limited. The Bed if fully completed and operationalized, would help improve sanitation in the area of fecal waste disposal in the Volta Region as well as make available compost for crop production.