The ultra-modern water closet public toilet facility constructed under the “One Constituency, One Million Dollar” project in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region has been destroyed by fire.

The structure has been reduced to ashes.

The facility, initiated in 2018, was designed to serve over a thousand residents and eliminate open defecation in the area.

The facility was roofed, and what remained was to be painted and to have minor finishing touches before it was commissioned.

It was, however, abandoned for more than six years, with the remaining work waiting to be completed.

The prolonged neglect was raising questions about the project oversight, budget allocation and the implementation capacity of local development agencies.

Officials from the Krachi East Municipal Assembly have been cited for closing their eyes to the unfinished works, allowing the infrastructure to deteriorate without intervention.

The abandonment also impacted community expectations, leaving residents without the promised sanitation service, thereby forcing them to continue with open defecation practices that the project was meant to eradicate.

Community members and stakeholders have expressed disappointment, calling for accountability and swift remedial action to revive essential public services.

The unfinished building was subsequently occupied by a homeless gentleman popularly known as Elias, who converted the premises into a refuse dump, depositing torn clothing, rubbish, plates and other unwanted materials inside.

Elias, who sought shelter in the vacant structure, turned it into a collection point for discarded items found in the vicinity, effectively transforming the untended public facility into an eyesore and health hazard.

Mr Charles Awuranyi, Dambai Central Electoral Area Assembly member, confirmed the fire incident and described it as unfortunate.

According to him, he would officially write to the Municipal Assembly to request demolition of the structure, citing fire damage that has weakened it and is now posing a risk to public safety, particularly children.

Mr Awuranyi told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he would again notify the chief of Dambai, Nana Kwaku Beyennor II, to release the land for a private entity to construct a new public toilet.