Sanitopia CIC, a United Kingdom-based Community Interest Company, has embarked on an ambitious campaign to transform access to clean, safe, and sustainable sanitation across Africa, with a target of building 10,000 modern sanitation projects by 2035.
Founded by Ghanaian lawyer, entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist, Mr Richard Kojo Acheampong, Sanitopia CIC is redefining community-based infrastructure through purpose-driven development.
The organisation’s mission is to make access to safe and clean sanitation a fundamental right for every child, while promoting public health, education, and gender equality across underserved communities.
Sanitopia’s approach is rooted in sustainability and community engagement. Rather than focusing solely on construction, the organisation works directly with local stakeholders to ensure long-term management, accountability, and ownership of every facility it builds. Its model supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6).
Operating primarily in Ghana and expanding across other African countries, Sanitopia CIC has positioned itself as a company driven not by profit but by purpose. The organisation aims to tackle one of the continent’s most persistent challenges — the lack of adequate sanitation — which continues to threaten health outcomes and educational attainment, particularly among young girls.
As part of its ongoing mission, Sanitopia recently completed a major project at Nkonya Senior High School in Ghana’s Oti Region. The initiative included the construction of a modern 12-seater toilet facility for female students and the rehabilitation of an abandoned washroom block initially started by the government. To enhance accessibility, the project also features a roofed walkway connecting the dormitory to a 25-unit washroom, ensuring students can move safely even during heavy rains.
Mr Acheampong said the project represents the organisation’s vision of restoring dignity and improving quality of life for young people through sanitation. “Access to proper sanitation is not a privilege, but a basic human right. It underpins health, equality, and sustainable development,” he said.
The intervention has already made a visible difference, bringing renewed pride and confidence to the Nkonya Senior High School community. Female students now have access to clean and safe facilities, a critical factor in supporting consistent school attendance and overall well-being.
Through such initiatives, Sanitopia CIC continues to demonstrate that sustainable development is achievable when communities, corporate partners, and social enterprises work together toward a shared vision of empowerment and equity.