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43-yr old barber initiates environmental campaign to keep Oti river clean
‘Do The Right Thing’ at work at the landing site of the Oti river
A 43-year old barber, Mr Gilbert Addae, popularly known as ‘Do the Right Thing’ has turned himself into an environmental crusader, undertaking regular clean-up exercise at the landing sites of the Oti river at Dambai, in the Krachi-East Municipality of the Oti Region.
The decision was to create awareness on environmental cleanliness to enable him change the negative attitude of people about the environment, and avoid littering their communities, particularly the landing sites at Dambai.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Addae explained that he developed an interest in keeping the surroundings of river Oti clean for the past four years.
According to Mr Addae, he made cleaning the landing site a major responsibility, hoping that people would appreciate his efforts, emulate and join him, and in the process stop littering around the water body, which served as a major source of water for the people.
Sadly, he said it appears his efforts is going unnoticed, saying that, “the greatest appreciation I expected was for the residents to stop littering around water bodies and the environment, but anytime I clean, the following day one would see a new heap of rubbish.”
According to Mr Addae, he leaves his barbering shop in the morning for the clean-up exercise and follow up with education on the need to keep their surroundings clean, particularly fishermen, passengers of the pontoon and traders.
Mr ‘Do the Right Thing’ said the Oti Regional Director of Environmental Health (RDEH), Mrs Sybil Marie Boison, had helped in carrying out his new found passion by buying him a smart phone and provided him with reflective uniforms, wellington boots and hand gloves.
Mr Addae further explained that the smartphone helped him to call the Regional Director for advice whenever he needed technical support to enable him perform his unofficial duties well.
Moreover, Mr Addae stated that after four years of collecting waste material at the landing site, he became used to not only keeping the area clean but rather extends to the entire environment.
But that, he said, has not affected his barbering business which he maintains a high level of concentration on.
“This is not affecting my business at all. After going about my clean-up campaign, I return to my shop to do my barbering business in the afternoon,” he added.
For the long term, ‘Do The Right Thing’ has a vision to form groups in order to educate people on environmental cleanliness beyond the Krachi-East Municipality.
When contacted, the Oti Regional Director of Environmental Health, Mrs Sybil Marie Boison, commended ‘Do the Right Thing’ for the passion to clean the surroundings of the Oti river, and asked others to emulate his good example to ensure a clean community.
From Samuel Agbewode , Dambai