Former Accra Mayor urges youth to take advantage of YCAF to implement innovative solutions

Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, has urged the young people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF).

 He said this would help them to implement innovative solutions that would transform the city of Accra and safeguard the environment.

Mr Vanderpuije cited the devastating June 3, 2015, floods as a stark warning of what could happen if urgent climate action is not taken.

He gave the advice at an event organised by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to commemorate this year’s International Earth Day under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.”

The occasion was used to unveil winners of the second phase of the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF).

The former Mayor recalled the tragic events of nearly a decade ago, emphasising the need for a proactive approach.

“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.

Mr Vanderpuije who is also the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee of Parliament warned that the threat of climate-induced disasters remains very real.

“We cannot keep doing things the same way. Climate change is not just a distant threat—it’s here, and it’s destroying lives. The city of Accra must act, and the youth must be at the forefront of this action.”

Mr Douglas N.K. Annoful, the Metropolitan Coordinating Director expressed gratitude to the former Mayor for his commitment to the Assembly and climate change issues.

He explained that following the launch of phase two of the YCAF in March 2025, it became necessary for the assembly to initiate processes to select beneficiaries for the second phase.

Mr. Annoful mentioned that applications had been opened and evaluated successfully and that it was apparent to gather and announce winners of the fund.

He advised the youth who would benefit from the fund to be mindful of what had been done in the previous year.

He urged them to closely monitor the applications they had submitted, emphasizing that the Assembly could only benefit from future phases of the programme if the current phase was implemented effectively.

Mr Ben Smith, Acting Project Lead, disclosed that the selected projects for implementation included Promoting the Accra Climate Action Plan through Photography, Documentary and Drama Series.

 The others are Urban Gardening and Beautification with Advocacy Seminars, Advocacy for Climate Change through Quizzes and Debates, Green Above the Sky of Accra, and Youth Summit: Engaging and Empowering Future Leaders on Climate Change.

The rest are Community-led Waste Segregation, Composting and Public Education, Bike Your “Trotro”: Promoting Cycling as a Sustainable Transport Option, Transforming Coconut Husk into Clean Energy, and The Apata Initiative.

He indicated that a total of 58 applications were received.

Source: GNA