'Let us move from landfill to landmarks' Keech patron and former Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire speaks on sustainability at Ghana summit
Keech Hospice patron and former Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis has recently returned from Ghana where she was Guest of Honour at the Landfills2Landmarks International Summit in Accra.
In her capacity as Keech patron, she addressed delegates on the importance of sustainability, as well as working in partnerships and the value of community-led projects.
She said: “There are growing concerns surrounding the global second-hand clothing market, where large quantities of discarded textiles from Western countries can end up in landfill sites or dumped on beaches in Ghana and other parts of West Africa.
“The hospice operates 39 charity shops across three counties and takes its sustainability responsibilities very seriously. We and our partners are working towards reducing the environmental impact of clothing waste and encouraging more accountable re-use and recycling practices.”
She added: “The clothes we wear connect us culturally, economically and environmentally. Let is ensure those connections are grounded in fairness, responsibility and respect.
“Let us move from landfill to landmarks – not just in Ghana, but globally.”
Other speakers at the Summit included Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority CEO, Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse, its Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei and Deputy Minister for Finance, the Hon Thomas Nyarku Ampen.
Mrs Nellis said it was a huge privilege to serve as a patron to the hospice, which she described as “an organisation that combines compassion with protecting dignity and empowering choices.”
She added: “It is community-based with a genuine commitment to running this much-loved service effectively and sustainably.”
Mrs Nellis went to Ghana with her husband, Professor Joe Nellis. Their ties to the country date back more than five decades, when Professor Nellis worked at St Paul’s School in Denu as a 22-year-old Voluntary Service Overseas teacher.
After the conference, the couple returned to St Paul’s where they were given a warm and enthusiastic welcome from pupils, staff and local people.
They have supported numerous educational and community initiatives over the years, and also visited a school they helped build in the Volta region.
Mrs Nellis said their connection with several generations of Ghanains has shaped the way she sees the world: “They have taught me the importance of living with both an open mind and an open heart, and of recognising our shared humanity – regardless of where we live.
“Embracing relationships and different cultures with mutual respect can create lasting impacts that extend far beyond national borders.”