From April to May 2026, Mayekoo carried out two major coastal restoration interventions along the Chorkor–Chemuena coastline and Ananse Beach in Nungua, helping remove 375 metric tons of waste, mobilize more than 421 volunteers, and restore 900 meters of shoreline.
This was not routine cleanup activity. It was large-scale restoration work in two coastal areas where waste had built up over time through tidal washback, open dumping, weak waste systems, and long-term reaccumulation.
By combining mechanized operations, volunteer participation, and stakeholder collaboration, Mayekoo helped turn two heavily burdened coastal sites into visible examples of what practical restoration can look like.
Why this work mattered
Coastal pollution is not only an environmental issue. It is also a sanitation issue, a public-health issue, and a dignity issue.
When waste builds up along a shoreline, it affects nearby communities, marine ecosystems, public space, and the overall health of the coast. In places like Chorkor and Nungua, pollution does not disappear after one cleanup day. It returns unless there is sustained effort, proper hauling, stronger local stewardship, and systems that stop waste from reaching the shore in the first place.
That is why meaningful restoration has to go beyond one-off volunteer action.
Chorkor–Chemuena: confronting years of accumulated waste
The Chorkor–Chemuena intervention ran from April 21 to April 25, 2026, along one of the most heavily polluted coastal stretches Mayekoo has worked on.
The operation included four days of mechanized cleanup activity followed by one day of volunteer-led environmental engagement.
During the intervention, Mayekoo used heavy-duty machinery to map, stockpile, and consolidate waste for removal. Backhoes, front loaders, tipper trucks, and skip containers were deployed to support hauling and site operations.
The scale of pollution was severe. More than 1,000 metric tons of waste were identified and stockpiled along the shoreline during the intervention period. Within the active cleanup window, approximately 33 metric tons of waste were removed, while significant stockpiled waste remained on-site for continued removal as part of the next phase of restoration.
On the final day, approximately 300 volunteers joined the effort, adding energy, visibility, and community participation to the mechanized phase of the work.
Ananse Beach, Nungua: restoring shoreline at scale
Following Chorkor, Mayekoo carried out a three-day coastal restoration exercise at Ananse Beach in Nungua from May 21 to May 23, 2026.
This intervention combined mechanized operations and volunteer engagement to address years of accumulated waste and shoreline degradation. Activities included waste hauling, beach raking, shoreline restoration, waste stockpiling, and volunteer-led cleanup.
A range of equipment supported the work, including dump trucks, backhoes, front loaders, ploughs, skip containers, and the Mayekoo Beach Rake.
The results were substantial:
- 342 metric tons of waste removed
- 900 meters of shoreline restored
- 121 volunteers mobilized
Together, these efforts made Ananse Beach one of the clearest examples of how Mayekoo’s environmental work is moving from isolated cleanup events toward more sustained restoration.
Combined impact across both interventions
Across both project sites, the combined impact was significant:
- 375 metric tons of waste removed
- 421+ volunteers mobilized
- 900 meters of shoreline restored
- 2 major coastal ecosystems restored
The interventions were supported through collaboration with Clifton Homes and other partners, including The Ocean Cleanup Give Project, Ocean Tribe Foundation, GRIPE, and Krowor Municipal Assembly.
What the work revealed
These interventions also made something very clear: long-term coastal restoration requires more than labor. It requires systems.
Among the key challenges observed were:
- tidal washback that returned waste to the shoreline
- rainfall that affected machinery movement
- limited access routes for trucks and equipment
- difficult terrain that reduced operational efficiency
- poor disposal practices in surrounding communities
- inadequate waste-management infrastructure
- open defecation along sections of the coastline
- waste volumes that exceeded what could be transported during the intervention window
These are not side issues. They are part of the restoration challenge itself.
What comes next
Mayekoo remains committed to continuing restoration efforts at both Chorkor–Chemuena and Ananse Beach.
The next phase of work includes:
- continued transportation of stockpiled waste
- sustained restoration activity
- environmental monitoring
- monthly cleanup exercises
- community sensitization and education
- stronger community ownership and stewardship
- installation of awareness and anti-pollution signage
- improved waste-management support
- exploration of washroom facilities and trash-arresting booms
This is what it means to treat cleanup not just as an event, but as part of a longer restoration system.
Why this matters for Mayekoo
Mayekoo’s work at Chorkor and Nungua shows what becomes possible when machinery, community action, and stakeholder support move together.
These interventions improved environmental conditions, reduced the risk of waste re-entering marine ecosystems, and created a stronger foundation for long-term coastal stewardship.
More importantly, they made visible a core part of Mayekoo’s approach: practical, community-facing solutions backed by coordination, persistence, and a willingness to engage the full complexity of the problem. Click the link below to read more.