Planeteers move to save the environment-As they clean up Accra's Bola Beach
An Accra-based environmental activist group, the Planeteers Movement of Ghana, over the weekend took its turn to clean up one of the most patronized beaches, Bola Beach (behind the Independence Square) in Accra.
The Planeteers, as they are mostly called, were astonished by the large number of people who visited the Gold Coast Beach on Saturday for this important exercise.
The movement consists of mainly young professionals and students who have dedicated their extra time from work and school to engage in voluntary projects in an attempt to protect and save the environment.
The group takes it source and originality from the Captain Planet Foundation in Atlanta, USA which was founded in 1991 after the Captain Planet carton series. Launched in October 2010 by Laura Turner, daughter of Media Mogul and founder of CNN, Ted Turner, in Ghana, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin, Omanhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area is the life patron whilst Mr. Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman of the Global Media Alliance Group serves as the Director.
Until recently when ZOIL Services Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion was contracted to clean the beach, but the Gold Coast Beach had been abandoned and left to the hands of squatters and has been used illegally as refuse site for people who had no care for the environment.
However due to the heavy rains that was experienced a few weeks ago, refuse such as plastic waste, coconut husk, dresses, shoes among others were washed ashore, thus increasing the load of work of employees of ZOIL Services Limited as they needed more hands to keep the place clean.
With assistance from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and ZOIL Services Limited, the Planeteers demarcated a 200 metres stretch on the shore and set it as their target for the day.
Numbering about 20 and with support from personnel from ZOIL Services Limited, the Planeteers were able to clear the zone of all the refuse. They named the zone “PLANETEERS CORNER” as they plan to visit the beach frequently to keep an eye on it.
In an interview with the President of the group, Mr. Timothy Karikari, he explained that the beach cleanup was the last of 5 projects outlined in the beginning of the year. The first which took place on May 14, 2011 was the “I matter March” project.
According to him, it was a day for all planeteers in the world to demonstrate against the pollution of the environment by human activities.
The second phase of the project was on October 15, 2011 which witnessed members of the group participating in a cleanup exercise organized by the Be Bold Project of e.tv Ghana at the Circle Odwana in Accra.
The third and fourth projects were educational trips to Achimota Preparatory school and Achimota Primary School respectively to educate the students on source separation and recycling.
As a long term objective, the group intends to set up Planeteer clubs in all the educational institutions to extend its presence.
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