Sanitation practices of people living along the Winneba beaches

Abstract

Environmental sanitation has become a serious problem in the country. One area that has suffered from this problem is our beaches. Having a healthy beach environment promotes good living and development. Winneba is currently experiencing poor environmental sanitation at the beaches. The beaches of Winneba are filled with both plastic and solid waste. There is open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse. The main purpose of the study is to examine the sanitation practices of people living along the Winneba beaches. The study adopted the case study approach. The main instruments used for gathering the data for the study were interview guide and observation checklist. This enabled the researcher to understand the sanitation practices of people living along the Winneba beaches. The sampled population for the study consisted of twenty (20) respondents who live along the beaches of Winneba, one Zoomlion Official, Environmental Health Officer and the Assemblyman of Akosua Village/Sir Charles beach of Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. Data collected were analyzed based on emerging themes and patterns. The study revealed several sanitation practices of people living along the beaches. However, the overall environmental sanitation condition at the Winneba beaches is not up to standard. The research findings showed that environmental sanitation at the Winneba beaches is poor. The study again found out that inadequate toilet facility is one of the major sanitation problems of people living along the beaches. To ensure good environmental sanitation at the beaches, the study recommended that the Effutu Municipal Assembly should develop and implement periodic public education programmes on the need to maintain good sanitation at the beaches in order to change the attitudes of people living along the beaches to practice good sanitation.