Only 16% of health facilities in Ghana met basic sanitation standards in 2025, leaving about five in every six facilities falling short, according to a new assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The report, produced by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, found that Ghana’s sanitation coverage was below the 23% recorded across sub-Saharan Africa and the global rate of 40%.
The assessment also revealed gaps in other essential services. About 65% of Ghanaian health facilities had basic water services, while 54% met the basic hygiene standard requiring functional handwashing facilities with water and soap at points of care and toilets. Only 27% met the basic standard for healthcare waste management.
Across West Africa, sanitation coverage was particularly low, with Guinea-Bissau recording 7%, Burkina Faso 11%, Mali 12%, Côte d’Ivoire 21%, Nigeria 29% and Senegal 35%.
WHO and UNICEF said basic sanitation requires usable improved toilets for staff and patients, separate facilities for men and women with menstrual hygiene provisions, and accessibility for people with limited mobility.
The findings highlight continuing challenges in ensuring safe, dignified and hygienic healthcare environments, with poor access to water, sanitation, handwashing facilities and proper medical waste disposal potentially increasing infection risks for patients and health workers.