Tackling heat stress in Accra: PhD Candidate launches critical data collection 

By Dennis Peprah 
 
Sunyani, Jan. 30, GNA- Madam Racheal Yeboah Nketiah, a PhD Candidate of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has launched a data collection project to help tackle heat stress in the Accra Metropolis. 
 
The “PALM-TREEs Project,” according to her, focused on studying the effects of extreme events on marginalized communities, the project had kicked off its Accra case study to assess the impacts of heat stress on women’s livelihoods. 
 
“This initiative aims to develop climate-resilient solutions by working closely with communities, stakeholders, and policymakers,” she told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani. 
 
Already, Mad Nketiah explained that a-two-day training workshop was held on January 15 and 6, 2025 to prepare seven field enumerators for the data collection. 
 
The sessions covered project objectives, heat stress research, and data collection tools, including survey techniques and the use of ‘ODK Collect’ for digital data gathering, saying practical simulations were held in Twi and Ga languages to facilitate effective communication with the target populations. 
 
Between January 17 and 21, 2025, the team engaged nine selected communities including James Town, Malata, Darkuman, Nima, Kanda, Chorkor, Mamobi, Accra New Town, and Kotobabi through formal introductions to the local authorities. 
 
This groundwork facilitated the installation of i-button sensors in 27 small businesses and households to measure heat exposure. 
 
“While challenges such as locating stores and participant withdrawals arose, the team’s adaptability ensured successful deployment,” Mad Nketiah stated. 
 
She said the data collected would deepen understanding of heat stress impacts on women in Accra’s informal sectors and guide climate-resilient policies. 
 
Insights from this case study also offer scalable solutions for addressing climate vulnerabilities globally, she added. 
 
The research is part of a broader effort by PALM-TREEs to address the severe socio-economic impacts of climate extremes across Africa. 
 
Unlike traditional climate studies, which often overlook marginalized communities, PALM-TREEs takes a pan-African, transdisciplinary approach, ensuring that climate information is practical, accessible, and tailored to local needs. 
 
In West Africa, Mad Nketiah explained that the project partnered with the UENR and Sustainable Solutions for Africa (SSA) in Ghana to analyze the effects of rising temperatures on health and economic activities, particularly among women in Accra’s informal sector. 
 
“The insights gained will shape climate-resilient policies and offer scalable solutions for addressing heat stress in urban settings globally,” she added. 
GNA