SYND and its partners have donated cleaning equipment to the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
This seeks to help ongoing efforts of the assembly to transform the constituency into the cleanest city in Accra and create a cleaner community environment.
The Director for the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metro, Mrs. Mercy Odoi, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the organizations for their unwavering support in addressing the pressing issue of accumulated rubbish along the shores of Jamestown beach.
Mrs. Odoi highlighted the pivotal role the assembly plays in maintaining a clean and vibrant environment for the benefit of the community. Acknowledging the magnitude of the task at hand, she emphasized the pressing need for additional cleaning equipment to bolster the assembly’s ongoing cleanup efforts.
She further proposed a collaborative partnership between the assembly, SYND, CSOs and stakeholders to come up with interventions to possibly halt the issue of frequent accumulation of plastic waste along the Jamestown beachfront, to completely eradicate.
This comes after a consortium of organizations joined forces for a beach clean-up operation in Jamestown, Accra.
This impactful initiative, organized to commemorate the Youth Day of Service (YDOS) as part of International Youth Day (IYD), showcased the immense potential of grassroots action in fostering a cleaner and healthier environment.
Under the banner of the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND), LEAP Africa, and a coalition of supporting partners, including EcoZoil, SESA Recycling Limited, SOY Africa, Let’s Do It! Ghana, No Limit Charity Organization, and the Aseidu Keteke Sub Metro assembly, volunteers, and supporters converged on the beach with a shared mission – to demonstrate the power of community-driven initiatives.
Armed with gloves, rakes, shovels, and an unwavering commitment to the cause, participants meticulously combed the shoreline for discarded waste. Their collective efforts sent a powerful message of unity and shared responsibility for our planet.
About one million tonnes of waste was collected from the seashore during the event.
This tangible outcome underscored the transformative potential of community unity in addressing pressing environmental issues. Notably, SESA and EcoZoil have pledged to recycle the collected waste, further amplifying the positive impact of the clean-up.
However, this initiative also shed light on a sobering reality.
Much of the waste found on the beach originated from urban gutters, making its way through the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon before settling on the shores of Jamestown Beach.
Among the debris were microplastics, tiny fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, posing a severe threat to marine life. Fish often mistake these microplastics for plankton, leading to dire consequences for aquatic ecosystems and the local fishing community.
In addition to its physical impact, the beach clean-up served as an educational opportunity. Attendees were provided with informative materials titled “Climate Change Basics” to empower community members with knowledge about environmental conservation and responsible waste management.
The event’s significance extended far beyond the immediate clean-up site, resonating with a global call to action against ocean pollution. The stark contrast between “before and after” snapshots of the beach clean-up offered a visual testament to the potential of collective effort in effecting positive change.
Organizers expressed their gratitude to the esteemed partners and volunteers whose dedication and support made the event a resounding success.
The clean-up not only restored the beach’s pristine beauty but also ignited a sense of environmental awareness that is expected to continue inspiring sustainable practices in the community.