Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the former mayor of Accra and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, has called on young people to use the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) to implement creative solutions that would transform the city and protect the environment, citing the devastating June 3, 2015, floods as a stark warning of what could happen if urgent climate action is not taken.
The former mayor recalled the tragic events of almost ten years ago and emphasized the need for a proactive approach while speaking at an event hosted by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to commemorate this year’s International Earth Day with the theme “Our Power, Our Planet” and to reveal the winners of the Youth Climate Action Fund’s second phase.
“June 3, 2015, is a date we must never forget. That day, Accra hosted over 50 mayors from across the world. As we escorted our guests to the airport, the city came to a complete standstill. Floodwaters submerged entire communities, and lives were lost. That is the face of climate change,” he said.
The head of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee issued a dire warning, saying, “We cannot keep doing things the same way.”
The potential of climate-related calamities is still very real. The threat posed by climate change is not merely theoretical; it is real and taking lives. The youth must be at the forefront of every action taken by the city of Accra.
He urged winners to use the funding to create noticeable and long-lasting change, calling the youth-led projects being supported by the YCAF “critical interventions.”
“This is not just about grants—it’s about responsibility. The evidence of your impact must be clear in how you manage waste, generate clean energy, and adapt our city to climate realities,” he urged.
He also praised the late Pope’s worldwide climate change activism and urged the next generation to continue his legacy.
“He told us at the Vatican that mayors must lead and that the youth must take charge. That message must live on through our actions,” he pointed out.
Mr. Douglas N.K. Annoful, the Metropolitan Coordinating Director, thanked the former Mayor for his dedication to climate change and the Assembly.
He clarified that the assembly had to start procedures to choose recipients for the second phase of the Youth Climate Action Fund when the second phase was introduced on March 19, 2025.
Mr. Annoful stated that it was evident to collect and declare the fund winners after applications had been received and satisfactorily assessed.
Additionally, he counseled the young people who would receive the fund to consider their actions throughout the last year.
He emphasized that the assembly could only gain from subsequent program phases if the current phase was carried out successfully, and he advised them to keep a careful eye on the applications they had submitted.
Ben Smith, the acting project lead, revealed that the following projects have been chosen for implementation: Youth Summit: Engaging and Empowering Future Leaders on Climate Change; Advocacy for Climate Change through Quizzes and Debates; Urban Gardening and Beautification with Advocacy Seminars; Documentary and Drama Series; and Promoting the Accra Climate Action Plan through Photography.
Other initiatives include the Apata Initiative, Composting and Public Education, Bike Your “Trotro”: Promoting Cycling as a Sustainable Transportation Option, Community-led Waste Segregation, and Converting Coconut Husk into Clean Energy.
He noted that 58 applications in all were received during the call for proposals. Following a thorough evaluation by a panel of experts using predetermined evaluation criteria, the 20 most impactful and promising initiatives were chosen based on how well they aligned with the goals of the Accra Climate Action Plan (2021–2025) and the Youth Climate Action Fund.
Source: newsthemegh.com