Richard's story.
Why a successful UK lawyer returned to Ghana to build toilets.
I went back to my old school in Ghana. The girls' washroom had been broken for over a decade. Girls were missing school during their periods. Some were dropping out entirely. My wife and I had used those same facilities as students. We couldn't walk away.
From Nkonya to the UK — and back.
Richard Kojo Acheampong attended Nkonya Senior High School in Ghana's Oti Region. So did his wife, Joan. The school gave them their foundation — but when they returned years later, they found the facilities in crisis.
Richard had moved to the UK in 1998. A severe car accident resulted in the amputation of his foot. While still in hospital, he faced deportation threats. Unable to find conventional employment, he started his first business in 2002. Today, his ventures employ hundreds in the UK economy.
In 2016, he qualified as a dual lawyer — Supreme Court of Ghana and Senior Courts of England and Wales. Success in the UK, but his heart remained in Ghana.
The moment everything changed
Visiting Nkonya SHS with Joan, they saw the abandoned washrooms. The girls' facility hadn't worked for over a decade. A 25-unit block stood half-finished. Students were suffering in silence.
Richard and Joan decided to act. Using personal savings and proceeds from Richard's book "Crushed But Not Destroyed", they funded the reconstruction. What started as a $15,000 project grew to over $30,000 as they added a roofed walkway and proper water systems.
120 days later, 37 toilet units were complete and commissioned. The pilot proved the model worked.
Why Sanitopia exists
That first project at Nkonya wasn't enough. Richard saw the same problem at schools across Ghana. Libraries without toilets. Health centres with broken facilities. Communities suffering needlessly.
Sanitopia was born from a simple belief: communities that give us everything deserve something back. Richard personally invested £20,000 to launch the organisation, on top of the £24,000 already spent at Nkonya.
Now, with partnerships like Ghana Library Authority secured and the May 2026 expansion mission ahead, Sanitopia is scaling Richard's vision: 10,000 sanitation projects across Africa by 2035.
Richard's commitment in numbers
"Crushed But Not Destroyed"
Richard's memoir tells the full story — from Ghana to the UK, through trauma and triumph, to founding Sanitopia.
All proceeds from the book fund sanitation projects in Ghana. Every copy sold builds towards a toilet, a handwashing station, a healthier school.
What readers say:
"A powerful story of resilience and giving back. Richard's journey from adversity to advocacy is inspiring."
"This book shows why infrastructure matters. It's not about charity — it's about dignity."
Founder-led. Community-driven.
Personal accountability
Richard oversees every project personally. No distant management. Direct involvement from start to finish.
Ghana first
Starting where the need is clear and the connections are strong. Ghana is the proving ground for Africa-wide expansion.
Business discipline
Run like a company, not a charity. Timelines matter. Budgets are real. Results are measured.
Meet during the May 2026 Ghana mission.
Richard is travelling to Ghana to meet partners, visit sites, and expand Sanitopia's work. Book a meeting to discuss how you can be part of the mission.
Sanitopia isn't about me. It's about the teachers who stayed late to help us study. The communities that raised us when our parents couldn't. The schools that gave us a chance. This is how we honour them — by ensuring no child faces what we faced.