In a remarkable expedition, Yvette Tanah undertook a 40-day swim down Ghana’s Volta River, covering a distance of 450km, to bring attention to the environmental impact of textile microfibre pollution and the escalating issue of secondhand clothing waste in the West African country. This extraordinary journey, known as the Agbetsi Living Water Expedition, aimed to expand research on the detrimental effects of textile pollution on waterways and raise awareness about the massive influx of secondhand clothing into Ghana.

The initiative, spearheaded by Yvette Tetteh, a versatile athlete, creative, and agribusiness entrepreneur, was conducted in collaboration with the Or Foundation, a charity dedicated to environmental justice in the fashion industry. The expedition sought to address the challenges faced by the people of Kantamanto in Accra, home to the largest secondhand clothing market in Ghana, where approximately 15 million garments are imported weekly from the global north.

A significant aspect of the expedition was to confront the issue of waste dumping, urging the empowerment of local communities to manage clothing waste before it infiltrates water systems. The statistics from the Or Foundation’s long-running study indicated that despite efforts by tailors and retailers to repair, upcycle, and sell secondhand items, around 40% of the clothing ends up as waste, polluting landfills and water sources.

Yvette Tanah’s journey down the Volta river offered a unique perspective on the Ghana’s river system, contrasting with the harsh reality of pollution and environmental degradation caused by discarded textiles. The project aimed not only to gather data on textile microfibre pollution but also to foster a connection between people and their environment, emphasizing the joy of swimming in the river.

The expedition’s findings were alarming, with water samples from the lower Volta River showing higher levels of synthetic microfibres than anticipated, even nearly 100km away from the main dump site in Accra. This underscored the need for action to address the growing pollution crisis.

Through events like the open Solidarity Swim, where over 100 people joined Yvette and her crew, the project aimed to inspire individuals to care about the environmental impact of textile waste. Yvette expressed her hope that by sharing swimming in the river and creating memorable experiences, people would be motivated to take action.

As the expedition concluded, Yvette Tetteh reflected on her gratitude and purpose, emphasizing the importance of intentional action in building a better and fairer future. The project serves as a call to imagine a future free from discarded clothes and polluted waterways, urging communities to break down the impossible into achievable steps.

Looking forward, the Agbetsi Living Water Swim, a month-long exploration of the Volta River System, promises to continue the mission of understanding and addressing the challenges faced by communities along the river. Yvette Tetteh’s dedication to swimming for a cause demonstrates that positive change can be achieved, offering hope for a future where the Volta’s waters represent the sustainable and clean future we as Swimmable Rivers strive for.