A major partnership has been launched to tackle plastic pollution and environmental degradation along Ghana’s coastline, with the Buzz Stop Boys, Obokese Foundation and FANTEFEST London 2026 Secretariat joining forces with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to promote a nationwide coastal clean-up and environmental protection campaign.
Dubbed the “Clean Our Coastline Campaign,” the initiative is expected to mobilise citizens, young people, traditional authorities, businesses, local communities and members of the Ghanaian and African diaspora to take collective action to protect Ghana’s coastal environment.
The campaign will initially focus on the Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions, with plans to extend the initiative to other coastal communities across the country.
The partnership was discussed at a meeting involving Acting Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse; Founder and Leader of the Buzz Stop Boys, Heneba Kwadwo Safo; and Executive Director of the Obokese Foundation and Founder/Chief Patron of the FANTEFEST Secretariat, Nana Obokese Ampah I.
Speaking during the meeting, Heneba Kwadwo Safo expressed appreciation to Nana Obokese for inviting the Buzz Stop Boys to join the initiative and pledged the group’s full support.
His commitment is expected to bring the Buzz Stop Boys’ considerable experience in community clean-up activities and youth mobilisation to the campaign. The organization’s involvement is also expected to strengthen the grassroots dimension of the initiative by encouraging young people to take ownership of environmental protection in their communities.
On her part, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse stressed the importance of citizen participation in the fight against plastic pollution. According to the Acting EPA CEO, government institutions alone cannot solve the country’s environmental challenges without the active participation and support of citizens.
The campaign will therefore focus not only on removing waste from beaches and coastal areas but also on prevention, public education, responsible waste disposal, recycling and behavioural change.
Among the planned interventions are the mobilisation of volunteers, engagement with traditional leaders and local authorities, environmental education in schools, promotion of responsible plastic use and recycling, and support for community-led environmental initiatives.
The campaign will also encourage businesses and corporate organisations to invest in coastal communities through environmental sponsorship and explore opportunities to mobilise international organisations and the Ghanaian diaspora.
A key proposal is an “Adopt a Coastal Community” initiative, through which companies, institutions, philanthropists and individuals can provide financial, technical or material support for long-term environmental projects.
Such interventions could include the provision of waste-management equipment, sustained community clean-up programmes, public education and the development of recycling and other environmentally friendly enterprises.
The initiative is also expected to gain an international platform through FANTEFEST Ahobaa Kɛse London 2026.
The campaign will be promoted internationally as part of the FANTEFEST programme, with a major platform expected during the Grand Durbar of Chiefs in London on September 27, 2026, which coincides with World Tourism Day.
Nana Obokese Ampah I is expected to play a key role in connecting the environmental campaign with traditional leadership, cultural diplomacy and the Ghanaian diaspora.
The international dimension is intended to draw attention to the importance of Ghana’s coastline not only as an environmental resource but also as a cultural, historical and tourism asset.
The EPA provides environmental policy leadership, technical expertise and institutional coordination, while the Obokese Foundation and FANTEFEST Secretariat bring cultural mobilisation, traditional leadership engagement and international and diaspora networks.
The Buzz Stop Boys, meanwhile, contribute youth participation, grassroots mobilisation and practical experience in environmental clean-up campaigns.The organisers are calling on businesses, financial institutions, development partners, philanthropists and members of the Ghanaian and African diaspora to support the campaign.
Beyond financial contributions, potential partners could provide equipment, technical expertise, educational materials and other resources required to sustain environmental activities in participating coastal communities.
The initiative also presents opportunities for young people to develop livelihoods in areas such as recycling, waste collection, upcycling, environmental education and sustainable tourism.
Ghana’s coastline supports fishing communities, tourism, cultural activities and other economic activities. However, plastic pollution and other forms of environmental degradation continue to threaten marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“The success of the Clean Our Coastline Campaign will not be measured only by the amount of waste collected during clean-up exercises, but by the ability of communities to prevent waste from reaching the coastline in the first place,” Nana Obokese Observed.
Story written by Daniel Deladem Kisseih (dannycentralpress@gmail.com)
