Accra - A Dutchman has been arrested in Ghana after being caught with his trousers down defecating into a drinking water bucket used by his workers, said police in the West African country on Thursday.

Police spokesperson Angwubutuge Awuni said 38-year-old construction site supervisor Kamaiel van Roussum had admitted the offence, but explained he was suffering from diarrhoea and there was no toilet at the site.

Workers had complained that van Roussum regularly defecated into their water buckets.

One worker caught him sitting on a bucket a week ago with his trousers around his ankles and reported the matter to police, said Awuni.

A police laboratory test showed traces of excreta in several buckets.