Mayor of Accra calls for renewed commitment to climate action as city commemorates June 3 disaster

The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has called for a collective recommitment to climate action, describing the June 3, 2015, disaster as painful but urgent reminder of the consequences of environmental neglect and urban inaction.

Mayor Allotey made the call in a speech read by his Executive Secretary, Alfred Frimpong, at the Climate Summit on Tuesday to commemorate the June 3, 2025 disaster.

“Ten years ago, our city witnessed a tragedy that should never have happened, a night of torrential rain, poor drainage, and environmental neglect that took over 150 lives at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. But today, we are not only here to remember; we are here to recommit,” he said.

The summit, themed “June 3rd, A Stern Reminder of Climate Inaction”, was organised by the Youth Climate Advocates under Phase II of the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) and brought together stakeholders, youth groups, and city officials to reflect on the twin disaster and champion sustainable solutions for urban resilience.

The Mayor emphasised that the disaster was more than a result of heavy rainfall and challenged the youth to rise beyond symbolism and take leadership in driving climate solutions, calling on residents, particularly the youth, to recommit to climate action and environmental responsibility.

“It was a tragedy born not only from rain but from blocked gutters, poor urban planning, and years of turning a blind eye to the climate crisis. To the youth gathered here, you are not just the leaders of tomorrow—you are the change-makers of today. Your generation understands the urgency of the climate crisis more than any other,” he said.

Mayor Kpakpo Allotey pointed out that the city was already implementing measures to build resilience, including enforcing decongestion to enable proper waste disposal, rolling out green infrastructure under the Mayor’s Special Green Initiative and strengthening waste and sanitation policies.

“We cannot do this alone; we need you to speak out against littering, to organise cleanups and tree planting drives, to design climate-smart solutions, and to hold us accountable. Let us not allow history to repeat itself,” he said.

Presiding Member of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Musah Ziyad, in an interview with the media, reiterated the link between poor drainage, congestion, and urban flooding.

He stated that while the exact site of the 2015 disaster falls outside AMA’s jurisdiction, the Assembly’s citywide decongestion and drainage programmes were essential to flood prevention.

“The Greater Accra Resilience and Integration Development (GARID) Project has helped us clear major drains like the Odaw and areas around the Korle Lagoon. We’ve engaged communities, and we expect full clearance of the remaining informal settlements in the coming weeks,” he said.

Hon. Ziyad stressed the importance of education in achieving long-term results.

“We believe the issue isn’t a lack of policy—it’s a lack of compliance. That’s why we’re involving the youth, to build a culture of environmental responsibility from the ground up.”

Addressing the gathering, Simon Tetteh, Fiscal Lead for the Youth Climate Action Network (YCAF), emphasised the importance of the youth-led initiatives and called for grassroots mobilisation, better waste management practices, and community-driven accountability.

“This disaster was more than just heavy rains. It was caused by choked gutters, plastic waste, and neglect. Let this summit be the moment we commit to change—starting with how we manage our waste, our drains, and our communities,” he said.

“With unity, awareness, and determination, we can ensure a flood-free future. Let’s rise to the occasion, take action, and make a difference. Simple actions like keeping our gutters clean and saying no to indiscriminate plastic waste disposal are crucial. This tragedy must not just be a memory—it must be a wake-up call,” he added.

The commemorative summit also featured a city-wide clean-up led by YCAF micro-grantees in selected markets across Accra. Activities included the desilting of choked gutters, the removal of plastic waste, and awareness sessions in five basic schools.

In addition, engagements were held with Assembly Members, Unit Committee Members, and market and opinion leaders in five electoral areas to promote community-driven climate and sanitation action.

The summit marks a decade since one of Ghana’s most tragic environmental disasters, with participants vowing never to let complacency cost the city more lives.