Latrine Celebration

Yesterday I went to Volta region to attend the commissioning of a KVIP (latrine) in a village that hosts some refugees. Our embassy funded it through a grant to a local NGO. We're proud to have had a part in it. Believe me, latrines are a wonderful thing, and Ghana needs many more of them. (Maybe they would keep people from defecating on the side of the road or on the beach.)

The ceremony began in the village center. Below, a member of the village council tells the crowd why we are there.



Village elders, the chief and queen mother were all present. Here is the okyeame, or spokesman, of the chief, recognizable from the staff he carries.



Between speakers, we enjoyed a dancing and drumming interlude.



After the speakers were finished, we proceeded to the latrine site. There, some more spontaneous dancing and drumming broke out, complete with hankie waving.



Here's the ceremonial handing over of the keys to the queen mother.



Hmm, it appears that each stall accomodates 2 people.



Altogether there are 12 stalls with individual doors. 6 are for men, 6 are for women. (The men's and women's sections are separated by a dividing wall.



Now we know where to go if nature calls in Likpe Bakua.