Ada-Foah: Residents of Ada-Foah in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region marked this year's World Earth Day by participating in a beach clean-up activity along the shores of the old Ada Fort.
According to Ghana News Agency, the exercise was organized by Alkebulan Heritage Centre, a hospitality services provider and wellness center in Ada. The event brought together various stakeholders, including environmental non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations focused on conservation, waste management, and climate resilience building.
Additional participants included government agencies such as the District Environmental Health Department, relevant unit committee members of the local assembly, waste management institutions, climate change campaigners, and the Ada Tourism Association.
This inaugural World Earth Day commemoration in Ada aimed to promote good sanitation practices, environmental protection, and awareness about the importance of preserving natural resources. Participants collected plastic waste and other debris from the seashore to safeguard the environment and marine life.
Mr. Ebenezer Nartey, the Assembly Member for the Zongo Electoral Area, commended the community for their support and emphasized the importance of protecting natural resources such as the Songor Lagoon, the Volta River, and the Atlantic Ocean. He noted that these resources not only benefit the nation but also support the local economy and culture. Mr. Nartey also applauded efforts to eliminate open defecation in the area, highlighting the improvement of sanitation and public health due to the installation of toilets in many homes.
Mr. Frank Opoku Abimah, the Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Ada East, cautioned against illegal sand mining, which contributes to coastal erosion and the loss of trees. He urged authorities to enhance educational efforts and enforce laws to conserve natural resources in the region.
Climate change campaigner Mr. Eugene Eyram Apana remarked that the clean-up activity was a significant step for the Ada community, emphasizing that World Earth Day should be a time for action, not just celebration. He stated, "This clean-up shows that the people of Ada are ready to take care of the environment and join the global fight against climate change." Mr. Apana suggested that the waste collected from the beach could be processed into manure for farming and encouraged the community to maintain daily beach cleaning to attract more visitors.