"Sanitation is a basic right, and our work ensures that no one is left behind."

"We all have a role to play in solving the challenges around us," says Dieudonne Kwame Agudah, the founder of WASHKING, a social enterprise revolutionising sanitation in Ghana. For Dieudonne, this mission is shaped by first-hand experience where access to safe sanitation was a daily struggle. Today, WASHKING delivers innovative solutions that address the interconnected challenges of health, the environment, and economic development.

Reflecting on his journey, Dieudonne notes, "Growing up without access to safe sanitation taught me the importance of dignity and health. It's not just about toilets; it's about transforming lives and creating opportunities for better futures." This profound realisation fuels WASHKING’s mission to bridge critical gaps in underserved communities.

Tackling Ghana’s Sanitation Crisis

WASHKING was founded to tackle the dire sanitation crisis in Ghana, where nearly one person dies every hour due to poor sanitation (according to the WHO). The crisis extends beyond immediate health risks, influencing education, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability. Open defecation, for instance, leads to the contamination of water sources, causing widespread diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. "When sanitation is lacking, the ripple effects touch every aspect of life," Dieudonne emphasises. "It affects health, education, and even how people view their own potential."

For women and girls, the lack of sanitation facilities poses unique challenges, including heightened risks of gender-based violence and limited access to education due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management. Dieudonne recognised the urgent need for change and sought to address these challenges holistically. By improving access to sustainable sanitation for underserved urban populations, WASHKING is bridging a critical gap while transforming communities. "Sanitation is a basic right," he adds. "And our work ensures that no one is left behind."

Biodigester Systems: A Sustainable Solution

At its core, WASHKING provides biodigester-based sanitation systems, which offer a smarter, more sustainable alternative to traditional septic tanks. These systems are ideal for densely populated urban areas, requiring minimal land and eliminating the need for expensive waste removal services. "Our biodigesters are game-changers," Dieudonne explains. "They work in small spaces, cost less, and address sanitation challenges in ways that traditional solutions cannot."

These systems are also more cost-effective, making safe sanitation accessible to low-income households. To address financial barriers, WASHKING has introduced a pay-as-you-go model, allowing households to afford high-quality sanitation facilities without a large upfront cost. Dieudonne describes this approach as transformative, saying, "By making sanitation affordable, we empower families to invest in their health and dignity."

Making an Impact: Over 8,000 Lives Changed

Since its founding, WASHKING has achieved remarkable impact. The organisation has installed over 1,000 biodigester systems, benefiting more than 8,000 people in underserved communities. "Each biodigester represents a story of hope," Dieudonne reflects. "It’s about more than numbers—it’s about lives changed."

The positive ripple effects go beyond just providing toilets. By employing local carpenters, masons, and salespeople, WASHKING is creating jobs and stimulating local economies. In addition, the reduction of open defecation has significantly improved public health, particularly among children. The systems also prevent untreated waste from polluting ecosystems, contributing to environmental sustainability. "When we reduce waste and protect the environment," Dieudonne explains, "we’re safeguarding the future for the next generation."

Overcoming Challenges and  Building the Future

Building a social enterprise like WASHKING, however, is not without its challenges. One of the primary obstacles has been securing strategic partnerships with manufacturers and technology providers who understand the social impact WASHKING is making and are willing to adapt their products to meet specific needs. "Finding the right partners who share our vision is tough," Dieudonne admits. "But every challenge teaches us resilience."

Another challenge lies in building a team of skilled workers who align with the organisation’s vision and can execute effectively. "Training and retaining talent in a resource-constrained environment is a constant battle," he says. Despite these hurdles, Dieudonne views them as part of the entrepreneurial journey and remains optimistic, seeing every challenge as an opportunity to strengthen WASHKING’s foundation.

Leveraging Partnerships: Lessons from Change Days

Collaboration has played a key role in WASHKING’s growth, particularly through its partnership with We Make Change. During a recent Change Day, a virtual event where corporate volunteers support social enterprises, WASHKING worked with experts from Kinetic Consulting to address sales challenges. Dieudonne reflects on the experience as transformative, describing how the volunteers helped him reframe the organisation’s approach to problem-solving and develop long-term strategies.

"The Change Day experience opened my eyes to new perspectives," he shares. "It’s incredible how fresh ideas from experts can ignite innovation." Beyond immediate solutions, the collaboration also brought new perspectives that will shape WASHKING’s operations for years to come. "It’s partnerships like these that remind me of the power of collective effort," Dieudonne adds.

Ambitions for 2030: Scaling Impact

Looking ahead, WASHKING has set an ambitious vision for the future. By 2030, the organisation aims to reach over one million people across Ghana and West Africa with its sanitation solutions. "This is not just a number—it’s a promise to the communities we serve," Dieudonne asserts.

This expansion will also create thousands of jobs within local communities and significantly reduce carbon emissions through sustainable waste management practices. For Dieudonne, the journey is about scaling impact while staying true to the core mission of addressing the urgent sanitation crisis. "Our vision is bold," he says. "But bold visions are what drive real change."

Believing in Change

Dieudonne believes that everyone has a role to play in creating change. He encourages individuals to shift their mindset from thinking they cannot make a difference to recognising their potential to contribute. “There are a lot of challenges in this world”, he stated, “Let's shift our mindset from ‘I can't do it’ to ‘I can’ and then I have a role to play.” 

He also emphasises the importance of resilience, saying, "For me, I take all of this as part of the entrepreneurial journey and every day make it as part of the issues that I have to solve to ensure that we get where we have to get." To support WASHKING’s mission, individuals and organisations can partner with the enterprise, provide funding, or follow their journey online. "Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress," Dieudonne concludes. "Together, we can achieve extraordinary things."

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This is part of our ChangeLeaders interview series with impact leaders sharing their journeys, learnings, and lessons. If you are a ChangeLeader we should interview, please email us at info@wemakechange.org.

Interview & Article: Laura De Alba