Sierra Leone Kicks Off the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign in Africa
- James Clark
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 7
On 16th June, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign and the King's Baton Relay arrived in Africa, making their first stop in Sierra Leone. The impact of plastic pollution in Sierra Leone is stark: only around 5.5% of the 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced annually is properly recycled. Recently, a net installed by Engineers Without Borders, intended to prevent natural debris from flowing from a river into the sea, collapsed under the sheer weight of discarded plastic items it inadvertently caught. As a result of the issue’s visibility, the country has fostered a strong culture of volunteering for community clean-ups, alongside an admirable understanding among businesses, government institutions, and civil society groups that urgent action is needed. This ingrained experience of grassroots activity led to a highly successful leg of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.
Aberdeen Beach in Freetown was the site of the primary clean-up, lasting three hours. An impressive 441 volunteers from the Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone, the National Tourist Board, National Sports Associations, Salone Beach Volleyball, Freetown City Council, and the Africell Impact Foundation removed a staggering 40,000 pieces of plastic, preventing them from entering Commonwealth waters. A second clean-up took place the following day at Chelmingo Lorry Park, where powerful speeches highlighted the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on water quality, national health, and its negative effects on farmers' yields and food availability. Finally, a clean-up took place at the Bankasoka Hydro site, a critical power source for Port Loko City and surrounding communities.
The Africell Impact Foundation proved a vital partner in the programme, hosting an event at the Africell Sports Zone focused on raising awareness about plastic pollution. Kippy Debs, Director of the Foundation, delivered a powerful speech, stating: "Sierra Leone is at a crossroads - one that determines the health of our beaches, oceans, and future generations… plastic waste has become an insidious threat, suffocating marine life, polluting our shores, and eroding the natural beauty we are so proud of." Debs emphasised that the nation's beaches are not merely recreational spaces, but critical ecosystems supporting biodiversity, local livelihoods, and tourism. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering oceans globally each year, she declared that the focus must shift from mere awareness to action.
The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign is travelling to every Commonwealth Country and Overseas Territory as an integral part of the King's Baton Relay. Each country hosts sporting and cultural activities alongside a beach clean-up during its week of action. Sierra Leone excelled in promoting its rich culture during its time in the spotlight. A baton parade swept through Freetown on the 16th, attended by 200 athletes and 80 dignitaries. On the 17th, another procession in the Village of Mamoi led by the Village Headman celebrated some of Sierra Leone's traditions and peoples, such as the Nomoli figure, representing ancestral guardianship, and the iconic Sowei mask, which symbolises feminine beauty, transformation, and wisdom, unique in Africa for being worn exclusively by women.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth.
For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities, including a plastic clean-up.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
