Declaration of Five ODF Chiefdoms to commemorate the 2025 World Toilet Day

As the world commemorate the global World Toilet Day 2025, the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) is compiling a continent-wide overview of activities implemented by Member States. The information collected will be used to produce a synthesis report and updated on the AMCOW website and media platforms to   amplify efforts across the continent. Kindly submit your contribution using the format below

UNICEF supported the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to celebrate the 2025 World Toilet Day in a grand style.  This comprised series of activities such as float parade to raise public awareness for toilets, Press Conference and Radio discussions to engage the media for sanitation promotion with a climax event led by the Honorable Minister, Dr Sao-Kpato Isatta Hannah Macarthy who declared five chiefdoms as open defecation free. These chiefdoms are: Imperi and Nongoba Bullom Chiefdoms in Bonthe district Malen and Makpele Chiefdoms in Pujehun District; and Kongbora Chiefdom of Moyamba District. These Chiefdoms have over 100,000 inhabitants who, having stopped open defecation, now use latrines that offer their family members dignity and safety. The event was also attended by the UNICEF Deputy Representative, Alpha Cisse who implored all Sierra Leones to ensure that toilets are: accessible to all and resilient to climate change.

Collaborators: Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation; GOAL Sierra Leone; 

The declaration event was also attended by Paramount chiefs, Council Chairmen and key WASH players from NGOs and private sector and the Chief of WASH, Bishnu Timilsina who emphasized the need for Sierra Leone to move towards safely managed sanitation. Altogether, Sierra Leone now has 26 ODF Chiefdoms across eight districts with over 800,000 population.