A clean-up exercise in honour of the birthday of the founder of Scouting in Ghana, Sam Wood, has been carried out in Accra. The exercise, organised by Rovers and Adult Leaders in Scouting (RALIS) in collaboration with the BuzStop Boys, formed part of activities to commemorate the life and legacy of Sam Wood, who introduced Scouting to the Gold Coast in 1912.
Sam Wood, a British educationist, used Scouting to instil discipline, service, and leadership in young people—values that continue to guide the movement today. The clean-up brought together members from various Scout groups in the Greater Accra Region, including the Madina Reccy Scout and Rosalie Brown groups, who form part of RALIS. It honoured Sam Wood’s legacy while also promoting environmental cleanliness.
The exercise took place yesterday at East Legon and its environs in Accra. It formed part of RALIS’ mission to instil in young people the values of usefulness and helpfulness as set out in the Scout Law.
Speaking during the event, Abdul Mumin Iddriss, a member of the Madina Reccy Scout Group, explained that the exercise was in line with the Scout Law, which calls on Scouts to be useful and helpful. He stressed that such activities give young people the opportunity to serve their communities in practical ways.
He commended the BuzStop Boys for sharing their expertise in environmental sanitation, noting that the collaboration provided Scouts with valuable lessons in effective waste management, which they intend to replicate in future exercises. Looking ahead, he revealed that RALIS was considering aligning upcoming clean-ups with the monthly National Sanitation Day to contribute more directly to national efforts.
Leader of the BuzStop Boys, Heneba Kojo Safo, welcomed the collaboration, describing it as an initiative that helped shift mindsets and encouraged individuals to treat public spaces with the same respect as their homes. According to him, such exercises instil responsibility and reshape attitudes towards waste disposal.
He urged Ghanaians to prioritise environmental sustainability, stressing that safeguarding the environment was essential for the future. “The environment is the only constant that continues to make life meaningful. Without it, nothing else—not even going to church—would make sense. When one person destroys the environment, it affects all of us,” he explained.
Mr. Safo also called on youth groups across the country to take up similar initiatives, warning of the dangers of plastic pollution. “There are now more plastics in the ocean than fishes. If you leave your children with a million dollars in a dirty environment, they will spend it on healthcare. But if you leave them in a clean environment with just one cedi, they will thrive,” he said.
Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, he reminded Ghanaians that environmental challenges affected everyone equally, regardless of wealth or status. He urged individuals and groups to go beyond symbolic efforts and commit to consistent action.
Mr. Safo further revealed that the BuzStop Boys conduct multiple clean-up exercises each week, describing their work as a continuous campaign against the country’s growing waste problem.
Benedict Nii Sarpei Ntreh, Programme Commissioner of the Ghana Scout Association for Greater Accra, also praised the initiative and encouraged continued collaboration with the BuzStop Boys. He emphasised that Scouts must be willing to make sacrifices for such duties, adding that “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
By Stephanie Birikorang
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
