AMA takes bold steps to tackle heat in Accra

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is planning to intensify tree planting and expand green public spaces while introducing a heat monitoring and early warning system to help protect residents from rising temperatures in the capital.

Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, said the Assembly had begun discussions with potential development partners to support large-scale tree planting and other urban greening initiatives aimed at reducing heat exposure and improving environmental conditions across the metropolis.

He made the announcement in an interview after the Validation Workshop and Media Launch of the Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Framework for Urban Heat Resilience in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Mr. Allotey said the Assembly was committed to practical interventions that would make the city cooler, healthier and more comfortable for residents. He identified major roads, pedestrian walkways, roundabouts and other available public spaces as priority areas for planting trees and increasing vegetation.

He also disclosed plans to transform suitable open spaces, including roundabouts, into green areas to provide shade, moderate temperatures and improve the city’s appearance.

Beyond urban greening, the Mayor said the AMA was exploring the introduction of heat monitoring indicators that would provide residents with timely information on temperature levels and help them take precautions during periods of extreme heat.

An independent consultant working with Vital Strategies on the project, Richard Amfo Otu, said a comprehensive urban heat action plan had been developed to guide efforts to reduce heat exposure and strengthen Accra’s resilience to rising temperatures.

He explained that the plan included tree planting, the provision of shaded shelters at public transport terminals and other public spaces, the promotion of climate-responsive construction materials and the establishment of an early warning system for extreme heat.

Mr. Otu said the next phase would involve tree planting activities across the city and efforts to encourage private sector participation in urban greening and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure.

He cited shelters at transport terminals as one intervention that could be extended to more communities, particularly coastal settlements and areas where traders, commuters and pedestrians are regularly exposed to intense sunlight.

On the proposed early warning system, Mr. Otu said the action plan included a colour-coded alert mechanism to communicate the severity of heat conditions to the public. It also prioritised strengthening the capacity of health facilities to identify, manage and report heat-related illnesses.