A step seems to be made in Benin in the town of Grand Popo (Atlantic Coast of Benin). No sooner had he been elected than the new mayor of Grand Popo decided to draw the attention of the political and administrative authorities of the region on coastline pollution issues.
For this occasion, the Association for Youth Challenges for the Development (Association Défis Jeune pour le Développement) organized a large beach clean-up as part of Surfrider’s « Ocean Initiatives », on May 20th, 21st and 22nd in Kindjehoue and Gbecon (region of Grand Popo).
Both May 20th and 21st were dedicated to awareness-raising actions for school kids and the general public on coastline preservation. The clean-up strictly speaking, was on May 22nd: eight teams, each made of about 28 people, shared the cleaning of 8 areas.
The Benin Secretary for Environment and Nature Preservation, along with an important delegation of his cabinet, and the mayor of Grand Popo along with his town council joined the operation to bring their support and pitch in.
Quick summary of the clean-up
- Quantity of collected waste: 1400m3
- Number of filled rubbish bags: 40
- Number of participants: 581 of which 356 school kids.
This action deserves to be rapidly and efficiently extended, so that other “Ocean Initiatives” can be organized in all the other coastal towns of Benin which are slowing to take measures regarding coastline pollution, measures that have been asked for a long time.
Photo caption
- Max Placide AHOUANSOU (ADJD Executive director)
- Justin Sossou ADANMAYI (Secretary for Environment and Nature Preservation)
- Benjamin Clotaire ABLO (Mayor of Grand Popo)
- First deputy mayor
