The Buz Stop Boys, a group of passionate young volunteers working to clean up Ghana’s public spaces, have opened up about the social and emotional challenges behind their mission — but say their vision for a cleaner future keeps them going.
Speaking in an interview on Starr FM, the group’s Vice President, James Safo, admitted that their work, which involves clearing gutters, removing trash, and restoring order to neglected urban areas, is often met with discouragement — not just from the environment, but from society itself.
“Before my brother came, I was with a clinic. So, when he came in, he actually explained everything to me.
“I decided to give in. Even though I’ve had some negative comments from friends such as ‘how can a university graduate work in the gutter’. It’s normal. And where we come from, we don’t give up,” he shared.
Despite having formal education and other job prospects, many of the group’s members have embraced hands-on sanitation work — an effort often looked down upon in Ghana’s status-driven society. But to them, the impact is greater than any insult or misconception.
“We want to solve a bigger problem that will affect us in the next 20 years. So, we are solving it so that in the next 20 years, we will be free from all these problems,” Safo added.
The Buz Stop Boys have become a symbol of youth-driven change in Ghana, blending civic action with grassroots energy to tackle Ghana’s sanitation crisis head-on.
From Accra’s gutters to public bus terminals, the group shows up armed with gloves, tools, and a strong sense of purpose.
