A major step has been taken towards restoring Accra’s coastline following the launch of a large-scale beach clean-up and coastal restoration project along the Chorkor Chemuena–Lante Maamli stretch.
The multi-phased initiative, which ran from April 21 to 25, 2026, targeted decades of accumulated waste along the coastline in what organisers describe as a significant milestone in efforts to improve environmental conditions in the capital. The project is being carried out under the auspices of Mayekoo.
The operation combined intensive mechanised waste removal with coordinated community participation to tackle the long-standing sanitation challenge.
Between April 21 and 24, excavators, backhoes and tipper trucks were deployed to clear large volumes of deeply buried waste that had accumulated along the shoreline over several decades.
The exercise concluded on April 25 with a volunteer-led community cleanup that attracted residents, local groups and organisations, turning the beach into a centre of environmental action and awareness.
Organisers say the intervention ranks among the largest beach clean-up exercises ever undertaken in Ghana and represents a major effort to restore one of Accra’s most heavily polluted coastal areas.
The project brought together a coalition of corporate and institutional partners, highlighting the scale of collaboration behind the initiative.
The Ghana Russia Center for Commerce and Relations (GRCCR), led by Chief Executive Officer John Aggrey and Head of Business Development and Innovations, Madam Ziona Ayorkor Holm, played a key role in supporting the exercise.
Other partners included Clifton Homes, Reiss & Co, the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE), and Ecozoil.
According to organisers, the collective support of the partners was critical in facilitating logistics, waste recovery operations and the large-scale deployment required for the cleanup exercise.
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has played a key role in the project, working closely with Mayekoo to ensure the smooth execution of the cleanup exercise and support its long-term sustainability.
Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey visited the site at the start of operations, where he expressed strong support for the initiative and pledged the AMA’s commitment to expanding the model to other coastal areas within the capital.
The project also received national attention following a visit by the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, who highlighted the urgent need for improved sanitation and environmental restoration along urban coastlines.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, Partnerships and Programmes Lead at Mayekoo, Robert Mills-Lamptey, said the volume of waste collected along the coastline reflected years of neglect and poor waste management.
“The sheer scale of waste along this stretch of coastline is a stark reflection of years of neglect and unmanaged disposal,” he said.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond clearing accumulated waste and seeks to restore dignity to communities living along the coast while improving environmental conditions.
“It is also a demonstration of what can be achieved when public institutions, private organisations and local communities work together with a common purpose,” he added.
The Chorkor coastline remains an important source of livelihood for many fishing communities in the area, while also holding significant ecological and tourism potential.
The ongoing cleanup exercise is already transforming environmental conditions along the coastline, while helping to reduce the health risks linked to years of waste accumulation. The operation has also started reopening sections of the beach that had remained inaccessible and unusable for years.
Initial results from the intensive mechanised clearing phase have been encouraging, with large volumes of waste already removed as work continues steadily.
Organisers say the initiative combines heavy-duty cleanup operations with active community involvement and a long-term maintenance strategy aimed at sustaining the gains made after the exercise.
According to project coordinators, the integrated approach is intended to create lasting impact by promoting a culture of environmental responsibility and continuous care within surrounding communities.
The exercise also coincides with the global observance of Earth Day, marked annually on April 22.
The Ghana Russia Center for Commerce and Relations says the initiative reflects its commitment to environmental stewardship through projects and community activities that promote sustainability, environmental awareness, and climate action.
Organisers describe the large-scale cleanup as a major step in efforts to tackle pollution and support long-term environmental conservation.