The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has lauded the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and its youth partners for championing grassroots climate action following a visit to the Assembly’s rooftop garden project on Wednesday.
The visit formed part of Mayor Khan’s five-day trade mission to Africa, during which he engaged with leaders across the continent to deepen trade, cultural, and environmental ties between London and key African cities.
The rooftop garden, located atop the Accra City Hall (AMA Head Office) and titled “Green Above the Skies of Accra,” is being implemented by the Amamomo Youth Group under Phase II of the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF). The project aims to transform unused rooftop space into a thriving green farm, promoting urban agriculture, biodiversity, and sustainable living, while addressing the growing impacts of climate change in urban environments.
Mayor Khan, who was accompanied by the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey; Coordinating Director of the AMA, Mr. Douglas N.K. Annoful; Special Advisor on Special Initiatives at the AMA, Mr. Denzel Kwasi Humphreys; and other officials, interacted with young project participants during the tour and described the garden as a powerful example of innovation and youth leadership in action.
“I’m truly impressed by the creativity and passion being shown by the young people here in Accra. This rooftop garden is more than just a green space; it’s a symbol of hope and local climate leadership. Projects like this are exactly what we need to confront the climate crisis and build sustainable, resilient cities,” he said.
The garden features both manually irrigated and solar-powered automated farming sections, cultivating vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, and pepper, as well as ornamental plants. It also includes a rest area for youth volunteers, flower pots made from repurposed plastic waste, and decorative signage crafted from recycled textiles and plastics, including one that reads “Bloomberg Philanthropies”, the funder of the YCAF initiative.
In his remarks, Mayor Allotey reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to empowering young people to lead climate adaptation efforts.
“Our young people are not just the future; they are the present. That’s why we are equipping and empowering them to lead on climate action. This rooftop garden will serve as a living laboratory where innovation, education, and environmental stewardship intersect,” he said.
He added that the Assembly intends to scale up similar projects across the city, with greater emphasis on green entrepreneurship and practical climate solutions.
The Head of Waste Management at the AMA, Mr. Solomon Noi, explained that the project includes seven environmental sub-initiatives, including composting from organic waste, textile waste transition, and the Plastic-Free Accra campaign. These initiatives aim to promote circular economy practices while enhancing climate education and community engagement.
