Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the mayor of Accra, has formally joined the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition for Cities and Regions, a global platform working to protect urban populations from the increasing threat of climate change and promote coastal adaptation.
Coastal cities and regions may take the lead in adaptation thanks to the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition, a voluntary worldwide partnership that gives them access to scientific information, indigenous wisdom, cutting-edge data tools, and sustainable development plans.
Although there are no legal requirements and participation is free, cities are required to undertake practical adaptation projects, share best practices, control coastal activity, and learn from one another.
The charter was signed by the Mayor on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in a brief ceremony to enhance collaboration between the French government and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in the fields of heritage preservation, urban sanitation, and climate resilience.
Speaking at the gathering, which was attended by His Excellency Jules-Armand Aniambossou, the French Ambassador, a delegation from the French Embassy in Ghana, and the AMA’s Coordinating Director, Mayor Douglas N.K. Annoful, stated that the city’s long-term goal of protecting its coastal environment from the effects of climate change, extreme weather, and rising sea levels is in line with the decision to join the Coalition.
“The signing of this charter is a commitment to building a resilient future for our coastal communities. Through this coalition, we are joining hands with cities and experts around the world to share knowledge, secure financing, and implement proven strategies that can help us protect lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems.”
Mayor Allotey hoped that Accra’s involvement will assist in speeding up ongoing climate adaptation efforts, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods that are vulnerable, and establish the city as a pioneer in coastal resilience in West Africa.
The French Ambassador praised the long-standing partnership between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the French Embassy and congratulated the Mayor on his confirmation.
“We have partnered with Accra Metropolitan Assembly for over four to five years, and while we’ve achieved a lot, I believe there is even more we can accomplish together,” he said.
He emphasized that successful projects in Accra help the entire nation, not just the city, and he showed interest in protecting and promoting Accra’s history, especially colonial-era monuments.
Mr. Alfred Frimpong, the executive secretary to the mayor of Accra, outlined the mayor’s top goals and emphasized the “24-Hour Clean Accra Now” campaign, which runs in three daily shifts and demonstrates a strong commitment to making Accra one of the cleanest cities in the world.
In order to enforce cleanliness regulations, stop littering, and encourage trash segregation in order to support future recycling facilities, he described plans to deploy City Authority Guards.
In addition to highlighting the observable results of the France-Accra collaboration in urban sanitation, Mr. Victor Kotey, AMA’s Deputy Director of Waste Management, announced that Palace Street in the Okai Koi South Sub-Metro has been selected for a pilot Zero Waste Street project, which is scheduled to begin in late June or early July.
The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Alfred Ato Allotey Gaisie, the AMA’s Director of Waste Management, Ing. Mr. Solomon Noi, the AMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Gilbert Nii Ankrah, the AMA’s Deputy Director of Waste Management, Mr. Victor Kotey, and Daniel Bentum, the Protocol Officer to the Mayor of Accra, were among those in attendance.
Source: newsthemegh.com