The leading telecommunications company in Sierra Leone, Africell-SL, on 10th November 2022, organised a motorised cleaning exercise dubbed “Kip Am Klin”, as a part of their corporate social responsibility, around the Lumley Beach in Freetown.
Chief Corporative Affairs Officer of Africell, Joe Abass Bangura, said that one of the best resources in Sierra Leone is our coastline, with a lot of beautiful beaches in the globe, assuring that we can make a lot of money out them. He furthered that human activities, including throwing garbage, has affected the cleanliness of the beaches.
“If someone threw garbage all the way from Wellington, it would end up on the sea coastline and the beaches, which will affect its value,” Mr Bangura said. He then admonished Sierra Leoneans to keep the beaches clean to add value to them.
Mr Bangura maintained that various organisations like the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, have been involved in the cleaning of the beach. He added that some countries are yearning to have beaches like ours. He disclosed that Africell, as a company, went on that they have been working with other organisations, including Propel Eco-vision Sierra Leone and “Save the Beach”, have also been involved in cleaning exercises.
“As a company, we are here to render our help to the various organisations to keep the beaches clean,” Africell’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer added.
He disclosed that most of the cleaning exercises that have taken place were being done by manpower, noting that human power can be fatigue. He said that this is the reason for the introduction of motorised system of cleaning that will ensure that machines do the work of 20 men.
“That is the reason we have made motorised available and launched the “Kip Am Klin” project.
Mr Bangura quoted Madam Theresa, who said “if everyone can clean his/ her front door, the world will be clean”. He said Africell has partnered with different institutions in the country, and that this venture is just a start, assuring that that will not be the end.
He furthered that they are working with different institutions, including Ministry of Tourism and Culture Affair’s field marshalls, including security guards manning their branches to ensure that the machine is safe and secured.
The Chairman of “Save The Beach” Organisation, Sheik Umar Kamara, said Africell has been sponsoring them for the past three years with tools, including tricycles, Umbrellas and other cleaning materials.
The Chairman of Propel Ecovision Sierra Leone, Tamba Sylvanus Kongomayie, with support from Africell, said they have been engaged in cleaning exercise for the past three years, and have succeeded in keeping the beach clean, adding that with all these interventions the once filthy beach is now in a better state.
