On Wednesday, August 6, 2025 the Suriname Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Fidelia Graand-Galon, paid a meaningful visit to Bolaplast, a community-driven Greenworks Organization based in Mamobi-Nima, Accra. She was warmly received by the Bolaplast BorlaPlast team, led by Mr. Abubakar Issaka, who guided her through their innovative process of transforming plastic waste into compelling pieces of art.
Bolaplast, an award-winning project rooted in Ghana’s Zongo community, was recognized by the Africa Cleanup Initiative in both 2019 and 2022 for its efforts in environmental sustainability. The group combines art, community engagement, and environmental activism to tell stories of resilience and change—starting with waste retrieved from Ghana’s beaches and transformed into impactful visuals and arts.
During the visit, the ambassador expressed deep admiration for the work being done, noting its relevance not only to Ghana but also to global environmental concerns. “The same environmental challenges you face here are happening in Suriname too. What you’re doing is inspirational, and if you allow me, I will take this story to my colleagues and share it with the wider Caribbean community,” she said.
A key highlight of the visit was a live performance by pupils of Pride of The East school illustrating the origin of Bolaplast. The choreography narrated the group’s origin story: how they once assisted fishermen at the shore and found plastic waste instead of fish in their nets. That moment inspired Bolaplast’s mission—turning pollution into purpose.
The ambassador was especially moved by Bolaplast's artwork made entirely from recycled materials, including a striking portrait of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and a replica of the Surinamese flag, both crafted from bottle caps. These pieces not only showcased artistic skill but served as symbols of environmental consciousness and cross-cultural unity.
Mr. Issaka also presented artwork portraying the impact of illegal mining and deforestation, including a piece symbolizing the loss of birds due to habitat destruction and another reflecting the sun’s fury over climate change. The ambassador encouraged the use of music and storytelling to raise more awareness about environmental degradation, stating, “What you are doing here is not only for Ghana—it’s for the world.”
As part of her request, the ambassador asked Bolaplast to create a short video to help raise awareness in Suriname, where ocean waste is also threatening marine life, particularly turtles who are unable to reach their nesting grounds due to pollution.
The visit ended with a renewed sense of purpose and a strengthened bond between Ghana and Suriname. Bolaplast’s work remains a powerful example of how grassroots creativity can inspire global action, one bottle cap at a time.