he Ghana Library Board (GhLB) is embarking on a major sanitation upgrade across the country after sealing a partnership with UK-based social enterprise Sanitopia CIC to construct 157 modern toilet facilities in public libraries. The project marks a bold push to improve hygiene, boost public health, and support quality learning environments.
The initiative directly advances Ghana’s efforts toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 4 on education.
Speaking at the launch, Sanitopia CIC trustee Lawyer Nana Yaa Owusu Aduome said the project is focused on transforming libraries into safer, healthier spaces for children and communities.
“This is about dignity and safety,” she said. “Children deserve clean, disease-free environments where they can focus on learning and not worry about basic sanitation. For many girls especially, proper facilities determine whether they stay in school.”
Director-General of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Alhassan Ziblim Betintiche, described modern libraries as more than reading spaces, calling them “vibrant community centers” that must support the well-being of learners.
He highlighted the Authority’s efforts to expand learning access, citing the zero-rated Ghana Library App available on MTN and Telecel, the 139 public libraries now operating across the country, and extended opening hours in selected facilities.
“This partnership strengthens our mission to provide not only access to information but safe and dignified spaces where learning can thrive,” he said.
Sanitopia CIC’s Chairman and President, Mr. Richard Kojo Acheampong, Esq., called the collaboration a transformative moment in addressing sanitation gaps in educational settings. Under the agreement, the organization will construct 150 sanitation units for existing libraries and another 150 for new ones as part of a broader plan to build 2,000 toilets within five years.
He stressed that improved sanitation cuts across multiple development goals, including gender equality and disease prevention. Sanitopia CIC also plans to introduce sustainable technologies such as waste-to-biogas systems and will train communities to maintain the facilities long-term.
“No education system can flourish when children are battling illnesses from poor hygiene,” Mr. Acheampong said. “By improving sanitation, we are improving attendance, well-being, and learning outcomes.”
The partnership also emphasizes maintenance, hygiene education, and behaviour change to ensure the facilities remain functional and effective.
Nana Yaa Owusu Aduome reinforced this point: “Sanitation is not just about building structures; it’s about teaching communities how to care for them and protecting the dignity of every child.”
Mr. Acheampong expressed gratitude to the Ghana Library Board, Khoshakis Ltd, Guarding Professionals Ltd, and the trustees of Sanitopia CIC for their contributions, while calling on corporate bodies, NGOs, and philanthropists to support the mission.
“When people unite around a purpose greater than themselves, meaningful change happens,” he said. “Together, we can make every library in Ghana a model of cleanliness, dignity, and knowledge.”
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to improving literacy and public health through innovation and partnership.
Support and donation information is available on Sanitopia CIC’s official platform.
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