GTA Launches Clean Beach Campaign

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has announced plans to begin a major Clean the Beach Campaign aimed at protecting selected beaches in Accra and other coastal communities.

The initiative, which is being led by the Chief Executive Officer of the GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto, will be carried out under the theme, “The Blue Ghana Initiative: Protecting Our Beaches. Preserving Our Future.”

The campaign comes at a time when Ghana is facing serious environmental challenges, including the effects of flooding and poor waste disposal practices across many communities.

On June 29, 2026, Accra experienced one of its heaviest rainfall events in recent years, leaving several communities severely affected. Areas such as Alajo, Circle, Kaneshie, Odawna, Tse Addo and Weija recorded major flooding, with some residents losing their lives, properties destroyed and hundreds of people displaced.

After the floods, disaster management agencies and city authorities raised concerns about indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and waterways. They explained that blocked drainage systems caused by rubbish have contributed to flooding in parts of the capital.

Environmental experts have also warned that waste dumped into drains does not disappear after floods. Instead, much of it is carried into rivers and eventually reaches the sea, creating pollution along the coastline.

According to experts, plastic waste and other forms of rubbish affect marine life, damage beaches and threaten the livelihoods of communities that depend on fishing and other activities connected to the ocean.

The Ghana Tourism Authority believes the Clean the Beach Campaign is necessary because beaches are not only important for tourism but also serve as valuable environmental and economic resources.

Ghana’s beaches attract visitors from around the world, support local businesses, protect biodiversity and contribute to the country’s image internationally. The GTA says maintaining clean beaches will improve public health, protect marine ecosystems and encourage citizens to take responsibility for the environment.

Speaking about the initiative, Maame Efua Houadjeto stressed that protecting the country’s beaches requires the support of everyone.

“Our beaches are not just tourist attractions. They are the face we show the world and an inheritance we owe future generations. 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.”

The Blue Ghana Initiative is expected to become a national campaign that places environmental protection at the centre of tourism development. It will encourage Ghanaians, organisations and communities to actively participate in protecting the country’s natural resources.

The GTA is also calling on companies that produce bottled water, beverages and other plastic-packaged products to support efforts to reduce plastic pollution. The Authority wants these companies to invest in recycling programmes, promote responsible plastic disposal and educate the public on proper waste management.

The GTA said solving the problem of plastic pollution requires cooperation between government, businesses and individuals.

The Authority has also supported government’s efforts to reduce harmful single-use plastics, including take-away containers and other plastic products that contribute to environmental pollution.

To ensure the campaign continues for a long time, the Ghana Tourism Authority will establish The Blue Ghana Foundation. The foundation will provide a platform for individuals, companies, development partners and philanthropists to contribute resources towards beach cleaning, environmental education and conservation activities.

The campaign will involve collaboration with local authorities, disaster management agencies, community groups, schools, hospitality businesses, resort operators, youth organisations, civil society groups and volunteers.

Details about the beaches involved and the dates for the clean-up activities will be announced in the coming weeks.

For Maame Efua Houadjeto, the initiative represents a new approach to tourism development that connects environmental protection with national growth.

She believes that cleaner beaches will improve tourism, protect livelihoods and preserve Ghana’s natural heritage for future generations.

“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.”