Following the PROTEGO Inception Workshop in Accra, the team embarked on site visits to key pollution hotspots, gaining firsthand insights into waste management challenges along Ghana’s coastline. From plastic-infested banks in Anlo-Afiadenyigba to turtle nesting beaches in Ningo-Prampram, the team engaged with local stakeholders and environmental agencies to assess pollution impact and explore sustainable solutions for marine conservation. Discussions with Tema EPA and District Assemblies highlighted critical intervention areas, reinforcing PROTEGO’s commitment to combating marine litter and protecting marine ecosystems.

PROTEGO convened a focus group discussion in Tema, engaging local stakeholders to assess marine litter pollution and explore actionable waste management solutions. The session examined industrial and urban waste contributions, the role of public-private partnerships, and strategies for improving waste infrastructure and policy enforcement. Insights from this discussion will help shape future interventions for marine litter reduction, biodiversity protection, and sustainable waste management in the region.

On November 28, PROTEGO hosted a focus group discussion in Ada-East, Ghana, bringing together key stakeholders to explore sustainable waste management solutions in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The discussion highlighted the impact of marine litter on biodiversity and local livelihoods, emphasizing the need for community-led waste reduction initiatives and collaborative recycling efforts to protect marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable development.

In March 2025, PROTEGO joined forces with local volunteers in Ada, Ghana, a known marine litter hotspot to conduct extensive beach sampling and waste stream analysis. Supported by the Ada East District Assembly, the activity generated key data on the sources and types of marine litter.
This citizen science initiative fosters environmental awareness while building local capacity for plastic pollution prevention along Ghana’s coastlines.

On 8 July 2025, stakeholders from government, civil society, and industry gathered in Accra to co-create policy pathways for tackling marine litter in Ghana. The workshop was part of the PROTEGO project, a regional initiative funded by BMUV, and brought together local and international partners committed to protecting the Gulf of Guinea. Dive into key moments of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and bold ideas for marine protection.

During its tour in Calabar, the PROTEGO team visited the Qua River bank at the University of Calabar, where drainage channels discharge significant waste into the water. In response, a focus group discussion was held in Nsidung, a key marine litter hotspot, bringing together local stakeholders, fishermen, and market traders. With strong support from local government officials, discussions focused on community-driven solutions to reduce marine litter and enhance waste management practices, reinforcing PROTEGO’s commitment to tackling marine pollution at its source.

On December 9, 2024, PROTEGO hosted a focus group discussion in Ajegunle, Lagos, bringing together local government officials, environmental experts, and Circularity Africa Limited to address waste management challenges. The session explored marine litter reduction strategies, policy enforcement, and community participation in environmental conservation. Insights from this discussion will shape sustainable, community-driven solutions to tackle marine pollution and enhance waste management efforts in Nigeria.

On October 24, 2024, PROTEGO hosted a Stakeholder Inception Workshop in Nigeria, uniting key public and private sector representatives to tackle marine litter challenges and foster collaborative solutions. Through stakeholder meetings and site visits, the team engaged with community leaders, policymakers, and industry representatives, mapping marine litter hotspots and assessing waste management challenges. These efforts laid the foundation for strategic partnerships and targeted interventions to drive impactful waste reduction and environmental conservation in Nigeria.

Following months of collaboration and technical engagement, Cross River State has successfully validated its Draft Environment Policy,  a milestone shaped in part by PROTEGO’s technical recommendations during the key validation workshop in May. This achievement marks an important step forward for environmental governance in the state.

From March 20–28, 2025, the PROTEGO team conducted waste assessments in Lagos and Calabar. In Ajegunle, Lagos, they collected and categorized waste from canal banks to better understand local pollution patterns. Shortly after, in Calabar, a Source-to-Sink analysis was carried out at beach markets to trace waste flows from origin to disposal. These community-driven, data-based efforts will support smarter, more effective waste management strategies tailored to local needs in Nigeria.

As Nigeria moves closer to rolling out its mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, strategic collaboration between national institutions and international partners is proving essential. A recent high-level meeting between the PROTEGO team and the Director General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, reinforced the government’s strong commitment to circular economy principles and regulatory enforcement. This visit not only solidified institutional alignment but also laid the groundwork for effective implementation of upcoming EPR policies through shared knowledge, ownership, and leadership.

Last week’s EPR Capacity Building Workshop in Abuja sent a strong message: Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy will only succeed if producers take full responsibility for their products. With voices from government, industry, and the informal sector, the workshop laid the groundwork for a national EPR roadmap that connects policy to action and supports Nigeria’s upcoming mandatory EPR rollout.