The author leads us through a series of graphic quotes from official reports, letters and newspaper clippings about the horrible state of sanitation in the town.
In one report from we read :. Some of these trenches have been in use open for more than a year and the natives complain bitterly of their filthy conditions.
In an experience of 25 years I have never seen anything worse Gewald : ". It is simply unbearable. But it must be endured Some of these WCs stand in the middle of the location. Is it surprising that the mortality was so high of late? Shall we only pay our taxes or should we not also be allowed to elect people to our liking who are concerned about our welfare? Gewald : ". Gewald concludes by listing four reasons for the authorities' lack of concern about public sanitation.
One reason was the "squeamish unease in talking about and dealing with an issue which was generally felt to be below the level of suitable discussion". The second reason referred to the costs involved. The third was that the authorities wanted to discourage the African inhabitants from settling permanently in the town and the last was that they regarded the inhabitants as uncivilised, and not deserving of decent sanitary facilities Gewald : It happened to the two authors of this paper when they went to "inspect" two public toilets in Nima, which is one of the most densely populated suburbs of Accra.
The toilets were located in an open space between the houses and the road. Women and children were selling foodstuffs only a few yards away.
