Mohinani drives sustainability education in schools through 'Charley, Sort it Out' challenge

The manufacturing and trading giant, Group Mohinani, has launched a major waste management and plastic recycling campaign in basic schools as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting environmental education and responsible waste management in Ghana.

The initiative, dubbed “Charley, Sort it Out,” is currently underway in forty-two (42) selected schools across the Greater Accra Region. It seeks to equip basic and junior high school students with the knowledge, tools, and creativity needed to become agents of environmental change within their communities.

Through both on-ground engagement and digital amplification, the campaign aims to reach more than 500,000 people, including students beyond the participating schools.

Promoting environmental innovation in schools

Over a three-month period, students in participating schools take part in interactive sessions on plastic, paper, organic, and mixed waste. These sessions highlight the importance of proper waste sorting, recycling, and environmental preservation.

Participants are then encouraged to collect, segregate, and creatively repurpose post-consumer waste into innovative products for a chance to win prizes in the Innovation Challenge.

Innovation fair and rewards

The campaign will culminate in a grand Innovation Fair in November, where student teams will showcase their recycled artifacts, crafts, prototypes, or sustainability-focused ideas before a panel of judges.

The top three winning teams will receive not only cash prizes but also a seed fund to establish a Sustainability Center in their schools. Other prizes include laptops, educational materials, and branded souvenirs to encourage continued learning and innovation.

Inspiring the next generation of eco-heroes

Speaking on the initiative, Ashok Mohinani, Chairman of the Mohinani Group, emphasized the company’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability:

“Sustainability is not just a policy at Mohinani but a personal commitment to the communities we serve. Our goal with this campaign is to shape the mindset of tomorrow’s leaders to become sustainability-conscious and eco-heroes who will champion the sustainability agenda in their communities.”

He added that since the competition’s inception in 2016, it has continued to expand each year — a testament to students’ enthusiasm and Ghana’s growing recycling culture.

“This competition is not a short-term project but one that will be extended to other regions and eventually to the entire country,” he affirmed.



Building capacity and community engagement

To ensure effective implementation, over 60 trained volunteers—mainly from Academic City University—have been deployed to facilitate awareness sessions, teach the campaign’s official anthem and dance, and guide students in developing their innovation projects.

Additionally, 60 teachers, along with regional and national education officers, have been trained to strengthen the long-term delivery of environmental and waste management education in schools.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with StratNova Partners, TKC Africa, and the Ghana Education Service, with strong support from Academic City University.

According to Hanna Acquah, Director of TKC Africa:

“This isn’t just a campaign. It’s a blueprint for how corporate social responsibility can drive systemic, intergenerational impact.”

A legacy of sustainability

The Mohinani Group, parent company of notable brands including Polytanks Ghana, Somotex Ghana, Somoco Ghana, Somochem Ghana, and Masco Foods (franchise owners of KFC Ghana), continues to set the standard in corporate sustainability.

As part of its broader environmental agenda, the Group recently established Ghana’s first-ever bottle-to-bottle recycling plant to promote the use of rPET packaging, reduce plastic waste, and strengthen the country’s circular economy.

This investment underscores the Group’s long-standing commitment to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Ghana and the African continent.