The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has called for stronger youth partnerships in the fight against climate change as he hailed the launch of the Apata Initiative, a community-driven project aimed at addressing extreme heat in the capital.
“This project is a practical solution to tackling extreme heat, one of the biggest challenges facing Accra today. By combining climate innovation with community needs, we make our city more liveable and support our long-term goal of sustainable transportation,” Mr. Allotey said.
He added: “Partnerships with young people are key to our success, and by collaborating with organisations like Bloomberg Philanthropies, we are advancing cities’ climate action in meaningful and lasting ways.”
The Apata Initiative, named after the Twi word for “shade,” is transforming public spaces with innovative cooling sheds made from reusable materials. The youth-led project forms part of the Youth Climate Action Fund under the auspices of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
The first two cooling sheds, designed and built by McKingtorch Africa, have already been installed in heat-prone areas around schools and markets, providing relief to pedestrians and cyclists from the city’s rising temperatures.
“These cooling sheds represent our commitment to healthier public spaces. Built from reusable materials, they not only provide immediate relief from heat but also showcase how sustainable design can transform our city,” said Roselyn Ntim, Project Lead of the Apata Initiative.
Accra’s rapid urbanisation and diminishing tree cover have heightened the Urban Heat Island effect, causing the capital to record temperatures several degrees higher than surrounding towns such as Dodowa and Aburi. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women, are particularly at risk, making adaptation measures like the Apata sheds a public health priority.
Beyond temporary relief, the initiative is also setting a roadmap to expand green spaces across Accra while running awareness campaigns in schools and markets to encourage sustainable practices. In collaboration with youth groups, the project is also promoting tree planting as a long-term measure to combat heat and improve air quality.
Local leaders have welcomed the initiative as a timely intervention, highlighting its potential to influence both community behaviour and future city policies. By linking climate innovation with active mobility goals, the project also supports Accra’s Vision 2050 target of ensuring that 40 per cent of all city trips are made through non-motorised transport.
Cleaner air, safer public spaces, and healthier communities, city officials say, are all part of the broader vision for a climate-smart Accra.
