BY BEATRICE MOKAM
Buea-Based NGO, known as Association For Community Awareness, ASCOA, partners with
TeamSeas and Ocean Conservancy on Saturday January 29, 2022 rally youths, volunteers and CBOs to clean up Down Beach seashore, for the second phase.
It should be noted that, the first phase took place on January 15, they were accompanied by the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development MINPDED South West. The event was tagged: TEAMSEAS BEACH CLEANUP IN CAMEROON
Speaking to the press after the exercise, the CEO and founder of ASCOA, Linus Ayangwoh Embe said; “We thought it wise to give a good face to the Limbe Down Beach, it is a touristic site, most spectators and visitors will like to visit the Limbe Down Beach and we don't want them to visit when they's a lot of trash. That is why we are doing this clean up today.”
During the first phase and second phase they recorded a total number of items, sixth four thousand, nine hundred and sixteen, 64916, total number of plastic bottles one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight, 1828 total tons, one hundred and nineteen, 119 tons.
Quizzed why such activity, Embe explained that as the town welcomes visitors for AFCON it was good to give a good face to the coastline
“This work we are doing in collaboration with the D.O for Limbe I and also some community leaders. ASCOA is also part hygiene and sanitation task force for AFCON so, we recommend they should be clean up this particular coastline” Embe explained.
Speaking to the press one of the volunteers Stassy Besong said “We are here purposely to make sure the coastline of the beach Is clean.i feel so happy the community especially beach line and tourists from abroad can be able to feel happy and good in our country”.
Ruth Enjema Koffi Environment Coordinator of ASCOA said, ASCOA works with HYSACAM, she added that for now, they are still looking forward to bring in into realisation plastic recycling. “We work here with HYSACAM to make sure the waste is properly handle and manage”,
“Cleaning the coastline is one of ASCOA effort in preserving the environment we are also looking at sensitisation. We have work together with various NGOs, we are also working together with Individuals in this community.” Koffi explained.
On his part, the Regional Delegate of the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, MINPDED South West Ekwadi Songe said, the activity falls in line with national environmental laws.
He said the ministry is trying at all levels to complete the chain of waste management. Songe congratulated ASCOA and encouraged them to do more, while urging other organisations to emulate what ASCOA is doing to keep the coastline clean.
He urged the population of Down Beach to always clean their beach and should not deposit plastic at the shore. She emphasised that, her ministry always partners with NGO to empower the community in environmental activities.
He added that his ministry is just implement the circular of the minister in charge of environment to keep the town clean especially the beach. Songe stressed that the activity is important because strangers who are in town will need to enjoy the beaches and they can not came and see beaches dirty.
Songe explained that the minister requested the beaches be clean because of AFCON and equally because Limbe is the most cleanest city in Cameroon so it supposed to be kept clean.
It should be noted that, ASCOA happens to be the very first local NGO in Cameroon to be involved in Beach cleanup.
Meanwhile the first International Coastal Cleanup Day was observed in 1986. The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines and on beaches.
Cross section of ASCOA volunteers
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