By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Axim (WR), Oct. 26, GNA – The Nzema East Municipal Assembly has presented micro-grants to nine youth groups to implement community-based projects aimed at addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.
The initiative, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies under the Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), sought to empower young people to develop practical solutions to environmental challenges and contribute to sustainable development in the municipality.
Mr Herbert Kuah Dickson, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who presented the grants at a ceremony in Axim, said the initiative demonstrated the important role young people could play in protecting the environment and building climate-resilient communities.
He said as a coastal municipality, Nzema East faced environmental pressures, including coastal erosion, flooding, changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and waste management challenges.
Mr Dickson said such challenges required practical interventions to protect natural resources, improve upon waste management, promote tree planting and encourage climate-smart practices.
He noted that the livelihoods of residents engaged in fishing, agriculture, trading and other economic activities depended significantly on a healthy and sustainable environment.
The MCE urged the beneficiary groups to use the grants strictly for their approved projects and ensure that every cedi contributed meaningfully to achieving their objectives.
He said the grants represented an investment in the ideas, leadership and potential of the youth, and urged them to implement projects that would deliver lasting benefits to their communities.
Mr Dickson expressed gratitude to Bloomberg Philanthropies for supporting youth-led climate initiatives and providing opportunities for young people to contribute directly to local development.
He said the Assembly remained committed to promoting environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and community development through collaboration with development partners, traditional authorities, community leaders and relevant institutions.
He called on Assembly Members and other stakeholders to support the beneficiary groups to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of their projects.
Mr Sulemаnа Bаmutu Saaka, the Municipal Coordinating Director, said the presentation was intended to provide the nine successful youth groups with the financial support needed to translate their innovative ideas into practical climate action initiatives.
He said the initiative also sought to strengthen community participation, promote local ownership of climate interventions and recognise young people as active partners in development.
Mr Saaka said young people were not merely beneficiaries of development programmes but also important agents of change whose creativity, and commitment could help address environmental challenges.
He noted that climate change required collective action involving government, local authorities, private institutions, civil society organisations and communities.
He urged stakeholders to renew their commitments to environmental protection and responsible natural resource management to build a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Nzema East Municipality.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter Mildred Siabi-Mensah