The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is set to launch a major beach clean-up campaign across selected beaches in Accra and surrounding coastal communities as part of efforts to tackle environmental pollution and promote sustainable tourism.
Dubbed “The Blue Ghana Initiative: Protecting Our Beaches, Preserving Our Future,” the campaign comes in the wake of the recent floods that ravaged parts of Accra and highlighted the consequences of poor waste management.
According to the GTA, the initiative seeks to encourage collective responsibility for protecting Ghana’s coastline while promoting environmental sustainability as a key pillar of tourism development.
The Authority noted that the June 29 floods, which affected communities including Alajo, Circle, Kaneshie, Odawna, Tse Addo and Weija, resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property and the displacement of hundreds of residents. Authorities attributed much of the flooding to the indiscriminate disposal of refuse into drains and waterways, with environmental experts warning that the waste eventually finds its way into rivers and the sea, polluting beaches and threatening marine life.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, said the country’s beaches are more than tourist attractions, describing them as national assets that support livelihoods, biodiversity and Ghana’s global image.
“Our beaches are not just tourist attractions. They are the face we show the world and an inheritance we owe future generations. Every piece of plastic that chokes a drain in Accra has the potential to end up on our shores. We cannot continue to treat our environment as someone else’s responsibility. Cleaning our beaches and keeping them clean is a national duty that belongs to all of us,” she said.
As part of the initiative, the GTA is calling on manufacturers of bottled water, beverages and other plastic-packaged products to support responsible plastic waste management by investing in recycling initiatives and public education on proper waste disposal.
The Authority also backed the government’s plans to phase out harmful single-use plastics, saying reducing plastic waste is essential to protecting Ghana’s coastline and building cleaner, healthier communities.
To sustain the campaign, the GTA announced plans to establish The Blue Ghana Foundation, a platform that will mobilise funding and resources from individuals, corporate organisations, development partners and philanthropists to support beach conservation and environmental education.
The campaign is expected to complement ongoing sanitation efforts by local authorities and disaster management agencies, with collaborations involving community groups, schools, youth organisations, hospitality businesses, civil society organisations and volunteers. Details of participating beaches and campaign dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Mrs Houadjeto said protecting Ghana’s beaches is a shared national responsibility, stressing that a clean coastline enhances tourism, safeguards livelihoods and demonstrates the country’s commitment to sustainable development.
