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From Gutters to Global Inspiration: How Ghana’s ‘Buz Stop Boys’ Are Cleaning Up Accra

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In a city where thousands of tons of waste clog drains and flood streets daily, a small group of volunteers armed with brooms and determination is proving that change doesn’t always require fat government budgets or international funding.

Sometimes, the change that really benefits society just takes five people who refuse to wait.

In July 2023, civil engineer Heneba Kwadwo Sarfo gathered four friends and launched what skeptics dismissed as a fool’s errand: manually clearing choked gutters across Accra at 5 a.m. They called themselves the Buz Stop Boys.

“University graduates. In the gutter at 5 a.m. People said they were crazy,” the group recalls.

Friends questioned why anyone with a degree would crawl through drains pulling out trash. But Sarfo, a trained engineer, saw something others missed—an opportunity to stop waiting for solutions and start building them.

A Crisis Too Big to Ignore

The scale of the problem is staggering. Ghana generates approximately 12,700 tons of waste daily. Official reports indicate that only about 10% of this waste is disposed of properly. The result is a familiar scene across the capital: streets submerged after rainfall, drains overflowing with plastic waste, and a sanitation crisis that has persisted for decades.

For years, residents waited for someone else to fix it. The Buz Stop Boys decided to become that someone.

Two to four times weekly, the collective descends on Accra’s most clogged waterways. They clear gutters, haul accumulated trash, and remove invasive weeds. Then, they do something that transformed their local effort into a global movement—they document everything.

The Power of a ‘Before and After’

The Buz Stop Boys took to TikTok and Instagram, posting time-lapse videos showing dramatic transformations. Filthy, blocked drains become clean, flowing waterways. Mountains of trash disappear. The contrast was undeniable.

The videos went viral.

What resonated wasn’t just the cleanliness, but the composition of the cleaning crew. The growing list of volunteers now includes midwives, carpenters, military officers, and chefs—ordinary Ghanaians from all walks of life choosing to show up.

From Accra to Berlin: Global Recognition

The movement has caught international attention. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo personally donated equipment to support their efforts. The group received honors in Berlin for their environmental impact. Most strikingly, teenagers from the United Kingdom have flown to Accra specifically to participate in clean-up exercises alongside the Buz Stop Boys.

“If a few guys with limited resources can work on shifting the aesthetic of a capital city, what’s actually stopping the rest of us?” the group asks.

Their model raises a powerful question about civic responsibility and the gap between complaint and action. In a country where sanitation remains a persistent challenge, the Buz Stop Boys offer a blueprint: start small, show up consistently, and let the results speak for themselves.

As their movement grows, one thing is clear—these five men with brooms have done more than clean gutters. They have sparked a conversation about what happens when citizens stop waiting for change and decide to become it.

Ghana News

Ghana Star Thomas Partey Pleads Not Guilty to Two Additional Rape Charges in UK Court

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London, United Kingdom – Ghanaian international footballer Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to two additional rape charges, bringing the total number of rape allegations against him to seven.

The 32-year-old Villarreal midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where he denied the new charges relating to a fourth woman in December 2020.

Partey had previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman, with the alleged offences occurring between 2021 and 2022 while he was playing for Arsenal in the English Premier League.

Partey was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for €50 million ($58.49 million) in 2020 and became a key member of the first team before leaving the club last summer when his contract expired.

He subsequently joined Spanish La Liga side Villarreal.

The midfielder was released on bail following Monday’s hearing. His trial, originally scheduled to begin in November, could now face further delays due to the additional charges.

The case continues to draw significant attention given Partey’s stature as a prominent player for both Arsenal and the Ghana national team, the Black Stars.

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Ghana News

Armed Robbers Killed in Tema, New Black Stars Coach Speaks, CSOs Propose Fuel Relief and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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We have curated the most relevant stories from Ghana to keep you informed. Today’s trending stories cover security incidents, economic proposals, human rights debates, fiscal updates, and more.

Tema Police Gun Down Two Armed Robbers After Brazen Daytime Mobile Money Heist
Tema police have shot and killed two armed robbers who carried out a daring daytime robbery at a Mobile Money outlet in Community 5, Tema. The suspects, riding a motorbike, attacked the vendor around 8:30 a.m., shooting her in the leg and fleeing with GH¢11,390. A police patrol team intercepted them near the Tema General Hospital area, leading to a chase and shootout. The robbers were rushed to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. Items recovered included the stolen cash, a loaded pistol, phones, SIM cards, and the victim’s Ghana Card. The female vendor is in stable condition.
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CSOs Propose GH¢1.65 Fuel Price Relief and Long-Term Petroleum Sector Reforms
A coalition of civil society organisations, including IMANI Africa and the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, has proposed an immediate GH¢1.65 reduction in the petroleum price build-up to ease the burden on Ghanaians amid rising fuel costs. The groups suggested the relief should last for two months instead of the government’s proposed four weeks, followed by a review based on global market conditions. They also called for broader structural reforms, including removal of burdensome taxes and levies, establishment of a Strategic Reserve Fund, and investment in the Tema Oil Refinery to enhance local refining capacity.
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Group Challenges Mahama, Says Backing LGBTQ Bill Undermines Human Rights
The group JustRight Ghana has strongly challenged President John Dramani Mahama over his stated commitment to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill if passed by Parliament. The organisation described the bill as “modern-day slavery” and argued that supporting it would legitimise the arrest and torture of LGBTQ+ persons, thereby undermining Ghana’s moral authority on human rights issues globally. They cited constitutional provisions on human dignity and privacy, as well as Ghana’s international treaty obligations, and vowed to pursue legal action if the bill is passed.
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Ato Forson Says Ghana on Track for Debt Sustainability as Focus Shifts to Growth
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has stated that Ghana is making steady progress toward debt sustainability, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s economic recovery. Following discussions with the World Bank’s Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, he noted that the focus is now shifting from stabilisation to growth-oriented investments in commercial agriculture, energy, education, and infrastructure. The minister stressed continued fiscal discipline while safeguarding vulnerable groups.
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Does He Think He’s Still in the Entertainment Industry? – UCC Lecturer Fires A Plus
A senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere, has sharply criticised Gomoa Central MP Kwame Asare Obeng (A Plus) for what he described as “irresponsible” and “wild allegations” regarding government officials acquiring state lands. The lecturer questioned whether A Plus still sees himself as a lawmaker or remains in the entertainment business, urging him to use formal parliamentary channels or whistleblower mechanisms instead of threatening to release documents out of anger.
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Newly Appointed Black Stars Coach Speaks
Newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has vowed to meet the expectations of Ghanaians, promising commitment, discipline, and unity as he takes charge of the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Portuguese tactician, who has managed at World Cups with Portugal and Iran, described the role as a great honour and expressed confidence in building a competitive squad capable of making Ghana proud.
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Ten Killed in Deadly Crash on Accra-Kumasi Highway
Ten people have been killed in a tragic road accident on the Accra-Kumasi highway. The crash occurred when a vehicle lost control and collided with another, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Emergency services responded promptly, but the incident has once again highlighted concerns over road safety on one of Ghana’s busiest highways.
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Strong Exports Lift Ghana’s Q4 2025 Trade Surplus to GH¢47.2bn
Ghana recorded a strong trade surplus of GH¢47.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by robust export performance, particularly in key commodities. The positive trade balance reflects improving external sector conditions and stronger global demand for Ghanaian goods. Economists say sustained export growth will be critical for maintaining macroeconomic stability.
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Ghana News

Newspaper Headlines Today: Tuesday, April 14, 2026

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Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place.

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