Yvette Tetteh, a Ghanaian-British agribusiness entrepreneur, athlete, and activist, completed the longest documented swim in Ghanaian history by swimming 450 kilometers across the Volta River from Buipe to Ada.
A colorful procession of drummers and performers marched along the riverbanks to honor Yvette’s and the local communities’ extraordinary accomplishments.
This arduous voyage was undertaken by Yvette, a 30-year-old athlete and environmental activist, as part of an expedition organized by The Or Foundation.
This difficult voyage was undertaken by Yvette, a 30-year-old athlete and environmental advocate, as part of an expedition organized by The Or Foundation.
Accompanied by the research vessel “The Woman Who Does Not Fear,” the expedition aimed to conduct a comprehensive study on microfiber pollution caused by textile waste and raise awareness about the impact of refuse colonization on the region’s ecosystems.
The crowd that gathered in Ada to witness the conclusion of Yvette’s voyage applauded her extraordinary accomplishment.
According to Yvette, the final leg posed a formidable upstream current at the Ada estuary caused by the Gulf of Guinea.
However, her unyielding tenacity enabled her to prevail and reach the resort, where a jubilant celebration awaited her.
Yvette Tetteh, a Ghanaian activist, speaks after swimming 450 kilometers across the Volta River in forty days.
Yvette and her team, the Swim Team, navigated the Black Volta and Volta Lake, pausing in towns and villages to observe the effects of rising water levels and engage with local communities.
Despite rough seas and a sluggish pace, their resolve and teamwork prevailed throughout the voyage.
A summary of Yvette Tetteh’s 450-kilometer swim across Ghana’s Volta River.
This expedition aimed to promote awareness regarding textile waste in Ghana.
As Yvette emerged from the water in her custom-made recycled swimsuit, the chief, community leaders, and ebullient onlookers applauded her.
The background of the solar-powered research vessel signified The Or Foundation’s commitment to preventing water pollution by measuring its extent along the coast of Accra.
During the mission, a kayaker ensured Yvette’s safety on the water, while the expedition documentarian, Ofoe Amegavie, and the Science Lead/Communications Manager, Edwin Dzobo, played crucial roles in the kayak duties.
The expedition builds on The Or Foundation’s year-and-a-half of scientific investigation into the environmental impact of used clothing waste in Ghana, which receives an astounding 15 million items of used clothing per week.
By shedding light on the effects of textile waste, the foundation intends to address the country’s significant environmental and social repercussions, including the overflowing volumes of clothing waste that led to the explosion of the country’s only engineered landfill in 2019.
The objective of the Agbetsi Living Water Swim expedition was to examine the impact of textile waste in Ghana.