Public toilet users in Tamale will now have to pay between 20 and 40 pesewas. This upward adjustment has alarmed public toilet users who previously paid 10 pesewas.
The new charges are boldly written on walls of some public toilets in Tamale.
Almost all the public toilets in Tamale are managed by private people who are required to pay a certain percentage to the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.
Those who request for toilet roll are charged 40 pesewas old newspaper users are to pay 20 pesewas.
As a predominantly dominated Muslim area, some public toilets caretakers have ablution cans and users of these ablution cans are required to pay 30 pesewas.
At the popular Kukuo market public toilet, some users were up in arms against the caretaker.
They argued that the increment was unjustifiable on the basis that black flies and maggots have always invaded the toilet.
Others complained about economic hardships and that they could not afford to pay the new charges.
By its strategic location, the Kukuo market toilet serves some patients of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, traders, students of Kukuo Zion cluster of schools and residents.
Caretaker of the Kukuo market toilet, Awuni Felicia said the increment was based on fuel price hikes.
According to her, tanker drivers who siphon the excreta have increased their service charges.
Awuni Felicia also attributed the new charges to increment in the prices of old newspapers and toilet rolls.
She again said the prices of chemicals meant for spraying the toilet had increased.
A good number of households in the Tamale Metro area lack toilet facilities.
This increase in public toilet charges will promote open defecation which might lead to cholera outbreak in the Tamale Metropolis.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana