Ghanaian creative and environmental ‘artivist,’ Beatrice ‘Bee’ Arthur has been nominated for the Green Ghana Impact Trailblazer award at the Ghana Environmental and Sanitation Awards (GESA), a flagship event that celebrates individuals and organizations advancing sustainability in the country.
Organized by EduEnter Group Ghana and backed by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the awards seek to highlight solutions to some of Ghana’s most pressing challenges, from mounting plastic waste to poor sanitation infrastructure.
Arthur, whose body of work fuses art and activism, has emerged as a leading voice in tackling what she describes as Ghana’s “waste colonialism.” Her installations, Plastic Present / Fluorescent Future, Toxic Truth: Where Plastics Lie, and curated shows such as ECHOES OF THE LANDFILL , have placed issues of plastics, consumerism, and pollution in the public eye, both locally and internationally.
“Our greatest challenge is still changing mindsets, how the world views consumerism and waste. Without that shift, the cycle just continues,” Arthur said, reflecting on the barriers to sustainable change. She pointed to chronic underfunding of waste management and Ghana’s growing exposure to imported waste streams, ranging from discarded tyres and electronics to second-hand textiles, as urgent issues that need stronger regulatory and financial responses.
The scale of the challenge is vast. Ghana generates more than one million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with less than 10% recycled. Meanwhile, open defecation and indiscriminate dumping continue to plague coastal and urban communities, threatening public health and undermining tourism. Arthur argues that recognition such as the GESA nomination is critical to galvanizing partnerships and drawing both domestic and international resources into the sector.
“These nominations are a huge validation. They’re not an endpoint; they’re a sign that people are listening,” she said. “This kind of recognition, from both within Ghana and internationally, builds credibility and opens doors for collaboration. It proves our movement is gaining the leverage it needs.”
Her nomination also underscores the increasing role of creative industries in shaping sustainability discourse. By turning waste into art and staging provocative exhibitions, Arthur has helped bridge policy, community activism, and global awareness.
The Ghana Environmental and Sanitation Awards are part of a wider effort to encourage private sector engagement in sustainability, a sector that experts believe could unlock green jobs and investment if backed by consistent policy and funding. Winners of this year’s awards will be announced later in 2025.
