Fostering coastal beach hygiene in Ghana: Exploring the role of informal community women associations

Coastal litter remains a significant environmental and public health concern, negatively affecting tourism, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Despite ongoing sanitation interventions, many beach-cleaning initiatives in Ghana are externally driven and lack long-term sustainability. This study examined the role of informal women's community groups in maintaining beach cleanliness in Ghana's Greater Accra Region and explored strategies to strengthen their contributions to sustainable, community-driven sanitation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 192 respondents, comprising 155 beach users and 37 community residents, alongside ten key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted across nine purposefully selected beaches. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and chi-square tests to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, participation in clean-up activities, and perceptions of beach cleanliness. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that although over 80 % of respondents regarded beach cleanliness as highly important, only approximately one-third had ever participated in organised clean-up activities. Approximately 70 % reported that existing women's groups were not actively involved in beach-cleaning efforts, largely due to limited recognition, inadequate resources, and weak institutional coordination issues. Chi-square analyses indicated that participation in clean-up activities was significantly associated with stronger perceptions of shared responsibility for beach cleanliness, whereas educational level showed a modest association with pro-cleanliness attitudes. Qualitative findings further revealed that women's groups—often organised around religious, trade, and community networks—possess substantial social capital, organisational capacity, and culturally grounded commitments to cleanliness that remain largely underutilised. The study concludes that repositioning informal women's associations through targeted capacity building, material and financial support, and stronger institutional partnerships can enhance sustainable community-led coastal sanitation in Ghana.