GTA tackles plastic pollution on beaches with 'Blue Ghana Initiative'

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) is seeking to turn the recent floods in Accra into a catalyst for long-term environmental action with the launch of the 'Blue Ghana Initiative', a campaign aimed at reducing plastic pollution and protecting the country's coastline.

Rather than focusing solely on beach clean-up exercises, the Authority says the initiative is intended to mobilise citizens, businesses and institutions to take greater responsibility for waste management and environmental conservation.

The campaign follows the devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on June 29, 2026, with poor waste disposal widely blamed for blocking drains and worsening the disaster.

Laboma Beach covered by plastic waste after devastating Accra floods

Environmental experts have also warned that much of the refuse washed away during floods eventually ends up polluting beaches and harming marine life.

According to a press release issued on Monday, July 6 2026, Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto, said Ghana's beaches deserve national attention.

"Our beaches are not just tourist attractions. They are the face we show the world and an inheritance we owe future generations," she said.

She stressed that the country's waste problem starts long before rubbish reaches the sea.

"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 campaign, the GTA is calling on manufacturers of bottled water, beverages and other plastic-packaged products to support recycling initiatives, public education and improved plastic waste management systems.

The Authority also announced plans to establish the Blue Ghana Foundation, which will mobilise financial and material support from corporate organisations, development partners and individuals to sustain beach conservation and environmental education efforts.

Houadjeto said the recent floods had once again highlighted the consequences of poor sanitation, insisting that protecting Ghana's coastline requires a collective effort.

"Our beaches are national treasures, economic lifelines and the face of Ghana to the world. Protecting them is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a shared duty that belongs to every Ghanaian and every institution that calls Ghana home," she stated.

NA/VPO

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