Buzstopboys! Environmental doctors
It has been two years and two months since the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Buzstopboys, burst onto the scene to drive change in environmental cleanliness.
The organisation has been instrumental in restoring areas vulnerable to flooding due to poor sanitation through clean-up exercises, desilting clogged drains and gutters, and clearing weeds and overgrown grass in communities.
Adopting the mantra “making unclean places clean for free”, the group has rallied volunteers to commit to cleaning their environment while extending their public-good efforts into the road safety space.
The NGO stepped onto the scene at a time when the country desperately sought solutions to urban sanitation conditions, daring to pull down a shirt, tie, and suit for overalls, gloves and boots.
Rather than confining themselves to the refined environs of air-conditioned offices where pen pushing defined status, they chose to push shovels and other manual implements to solve a major societal problem, becoming doctors of the environment.
Their effort has earned recognition from major media outlets such as the Daily Graphic and the BBC.
The Buzstopboys’ mission extends beyond environmental cleanliness.
The organisation promotes volunteerism, patriotism and selflessness, while raising a generation of concerned youth to drive change.
Membership
The Founder of Buzstopboys, Heneba Kwadwo Safo, said that from humble beginnings with seven volunteers, the group had grown to 127 members, 50 of them an active standing squad.
Heneba Kwadwo Safo, Founder, Buzstopboys, being interviewed by our reporter. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA
He said the organisation’s activities had inspired young people to form voluntary groups and undertake similar clean-up exercises.
Mr Safo cited their efforts in eliminating the regular flooding cycle between Madina and Shiashie in Accra as one of their success stories.
Other areas cleaned by the group include Ablekuma, NIC, Nyamekye Junction, as well as the Achimota overhead bus stop, all in Accra.
The Buzstopboys have also collaborated with stakeholders, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), to register and train members, enhancing road safety and environmental sustainability.
Impact
The organisation has since received support from businesses, corporate bodies and individuals, including celebrities, to improve its work.
Among them was support from President John Dramani Mahama, who donated equipment such as wheelbarrows, shovels, brooms, gloves, brushes and tricycles to scale up their operations.
Apart from the support, the Buzstopboys have also been honoured for their voluntary work.
Its recent award, the prestigious CIMG President’s Special Award, 2024, was conferred on the group by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana.
It was the 15th award of the group’s honours-filled voluntary service to humanity.
They also received a citation from the CIMG recognising their exceptional service to nation-building, environmental sustainability and social mobilisation.
Advise youth
Mr Safo thanked organisations, institutions and individuals for their support. He assured the nation that they would do their best to promote environmental cleanliness.
He stressed that their goal was to use social media to drive change in environmental cleanliness and educate young people to understand the positive impact of cleanliness.
He said they had achieved about 20 per cent of their goal, but called on young people to take action to address environmental issues.
Mr Safo said it had been difficult changing the mindset of people towards sustainable sanitation efforts and communal clean-up exercises.
“The challenge is changing mindsets because people still believe that they pay taxes, so if the drains are choked, the authorities must clean them,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said, the group would continue to change mindsets through educational initiatives and collaboration with authorities.
“We are collaborating with the local authorities. We have worked at Lagos Avenue at East Legon, where the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament, John Dumelo, participated,” he said.
Suggestions
Mr Safo urged authorities to acquire modern equipment to improve environmental cleanliness.
He suggested that each municipal assembly could have a street sweeper to keep the environment clean at all times.
He said there was a need for citizens to be deliberate about positive environmental practices, saying: “When we started, nobody saw us, but now people are paying attention.
We need to keep the fire alive”.
The founder said it would help greatly to reintroduce environmental studies and basic environmental practices in school curricula to educate young people on basic environmental practices.
“It saddens my heart to see young people litter the streets.
We need to deliberately bring back environmental studies.
“Without the environment, there is no us, our purpose, or the fact that we are walking around and feeling human. We need to protect it,” he said.
Culture
Mr Safo also called for the country to revive and promote traditional Ghanaian cultural practices that encourage environmental stewardship.
“Our culture was automatically taking care of sanitation issues.
When we start thinking of solutions as young people, we will drive the future and drive the change,” he said.
The work of Buzstopboys serves as a testament to the power of grassroots activism and youth-led initiatives in shaping a better tomorrow.
With their visionary approach to community development and environmental sustainability, they are paving the way for a brighter future, where clean living, green spaces and collective responsibility will become the norm.
