“Help Change Ghana”, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on greening communities and empowering citizens to take actions to protect the environment has changed its name to “Keep Ghana Beautiful (KGB).”

This follows its certification and affiliation to “Keep America Beautiful”, a leading community improvement NGO in the United States thence, making it Africa’s first organisation to gain such recognition.

KGB also joins more than 650 “Keep America Beautiful” affiliates across the world.

Executive Director, Elijah Mensah told The Spectator that the affiliation marks another milestone in shaping the organisations projects in the country.

“We are proud to belong to the Keep America Beautiful family of affiliates. With this certification, we look to working together to contribute to creating clean, green and vibrant communities in Ghana.”

Mr Mensah believed the country’s increasing population coupled with the high levels of waste generation called for more sustainable approach in ridding communities of filth and saving the environment.

“All over the country, the lack of environmental consciousness further elevates the waste generation crisis. There is incessant littering and indiscriminate illegal dumping in public spaces without regard to the dangers it poses to the human health and environment,” he noted.

According to the Director, improper management of the country’s solid waste and recycling could further destroy the natural beauty of various communities and “I hope that this affiliation will help us accomplish our goals as an NGO and contribute our quota to solving this problem.”

KGB hitherto known as Help Change Ghana has since its establishment trained over 300 volunteers on litter prevention techniques through its “Litter Prevention Initiative” as well as coordinated the formation of eco-clubs in 96 schools across the country.

By Abigail Annoh