Plastic pollution is destroying coastal communities around Accra, Ghana. Plastic and textile waste carried through streets, drains and waterways wash onto beaches and back into the ocean, damaging fishing, harming public health and destroying local economy. Mayekoo (Project Andiamo Foundation) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) working with a full team in Accra. For the past three years, we've led community-based coastal cleanup efforts, removing an average of 660 tons of waste with more than 600 volunteers.
Accra's beaches have become the final destination for plastic pollution carried from neighborhoods to the sea. Without consistent waste collection, sorting, and containment systems, debris returns after every rainfall and high tide. Impacts are immediate: Fishermen lose income when fishing nets catch trash, vendors and tourism operators lose customers, and public health risks rise where sanitation is limited. Volunteer coastal cleanups are essential but but manual cleanups alone cannot keep pace
Mayekoo uses mechanized beach cleanup including a tractor and beach rake, so volunteers aren't asked to do all the heavy lifting. With your support, we will operate mechanized cleanup to remove waste efficiently and pair it with regular community cleanups. We will install sorting bays, trash enclosures, and high-capacity bins, and coordinate reliable haul-off so waste doesn't return into the ocean. This approach combines community action, mechanized cleanup, and better waste management.
Cleaner beaches protect fishing livelihoods, improve public health, and support local economic activity. Less plastic in the ocean means fewer trash in nets and safer fishing conditions. Improved waste containment and haul-off prevent debris from returning to the coast. As capacity grows, this approach can expand to additional coastal communities across Greater Accra, helping maintain clean, safe beaches and resilient coastal ecosystems for the long term. Help us keep plastic out of the ocean.
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