Opinion by Betty Osei Bonsu
The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) has been working with the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) to implement the “Zero Waste Accra project”. This project aims to pilot a Zero Waste management strategy to deliver green jobs in the La Municipality.
On March 11 – 12, 2022, various stakeholders came together, including Sesa Recycling, La Tenu Radio, Ghana Environment.com, ChaiNT Afrique, La pleasure beach, and La Waste Workers. The stakeholders embarked on a door-to-door sensitisation campaign, “Zero Waste for all Communities”, under the theme of promoting citizen participation for effective waste management.
Waste management remains a huge problem in Ghana, and therefore, the sensitisation exercise responded to the lingering waste management problems most Ghanaian communities face. Over 200 volunteers participated in this activity. These volunteers trained and educated residents on properly segregating waste and the associated benefits of waste segregation. They also handed out segregation sacks to facilitate collection.
Before the sensitisation, volunteers were taken through virtual training to be equipped with skills to deliver campaign messages. Additionally, the volunteers disseminated questionnaires that targeted citizens’ perceptions on implementing the zero waste project. This engagement aimed to enhance the partnership with relevant institutions on waste management advocacy, championing waste reduction within the community, increasing collection and influencing the development of a strategic plan for effective communication on zero waste within communities.
The door to door sensitisation activity was carried out in three communities of the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (Mantiase, Adobetor and Adiembra). Through collective efforts, we reached 500 households and 13 schools, which had over 50,000 students.
The buyback plastic centre was launched after the day’s sensitisation, this was led by our partner Sesa Recycling. We received 333 kilograms of PET plastic and 122 kilograms of water sachets for recycling and processing at the material recovery facility from the community.
After this activity, participants and community members expressed their satisfaction with the events, and over 100 households registered to have their segregated waste collected.
Several media houses, including Angel TV, Ghana Environment.com, and La Tenu Fm released reports on the engagement and highlighted the activity to other stakeholders. GAYO and LADMA look forward to engaging with other organisations and stakeholders to promote effective waste management practices within the community and beyond.
*Betty is the Project Coordinator for the Green Africa Youth Organisation, based in Accra, Ghana.