Accra: SOCODEVI, a Canadian non-governmental organization, in collaboration with several local partners, recently undertook a significant clean-up exercise at the beach near Accra's Art Centre to mark World Clean-up Day. Mrs. Martha Rainer Opoku Mensah, Principal Coordinator of SOCODEVI's TogetHER Project, emphasized the importance of heightened awareness campaigns aimed at communities along Ghana's beaches. This initiative seeks to promote cleaner environments, reduce pollution, and protect marine life, ensuring that beaches remain safe and conducive for relaxation and recreation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the clean-up operation was executed in partnership with the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), Youth Mappers from the University of Ghana, and the Korley Klottey Municipal Assembly. The event was part of the global observance of World Clean-up Day, which takes place annually on September 20 to address the global waste crisis and encourage sustainable practices.
During the exercise, participants collected waste and removed deeply embedded debris, which was then transported for proper disposal. This effort also included sensitizing local residents on sustainable waste management practices, such as the 4Rs: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, and Recover. Mrs. Mensah highlighted the significance of regular cleaning activities, advocating for them to become part of daily life rather than reserved for special occasions. She also urged local assemblies to provide waste containers along the beaches to prevent direct disposal into the sea.
Madam Mabel Naa Amorkor Laryea, Project Coordinator for Zero Waste Cities at GAYO, voiced her concerns about the severe pollution along the beaches, stressing the need for greater protection of these natural resources. She noted the project's original intention to create art from collected waste was thwarted by the extensive pollution, prompting a call for the use of environmentally friendly plastics to mitigate the problem.
SOCODEVI is dedicated to enhancing community living conditions through the establishment of sustainable and inclusive cooperatives. In Ghana, the organization is implementing the TogetHER project, a Global Affairs Canada-funded initiative focused on empowering women and youth in cocoa-producing communities in the Ashanti and Western North Regions. The project aims to reduce gender disparities in the cocoa industry and promote equitable resource allocation to ensure inclusivity.
