Why Tema must lead Africa’s climate-smart urban future - Hon. Ebi Bright, Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly (Ghana)

 

By Hon. Ebi Bright, Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly (Ghana)

Last September, I had the honour of representing Tema—and Africa—in Germany on a study tour with the theme “Fit for Climate Change – How Cities and Municipalities Are Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change.” The week-long seminar brought together mayors, town planners, and urban experts from across Europe, North America, Asia, and Israel to discuss practical solutions for sustainable urban development.

 

Supported by the German Embassy in Ghana and nominated by the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), implemented by GIZ, the programme explored practical approaches to achieving climate-neutral cities through sustainable mobility, energy-efficient housing, flood and drought management, and public-private partnerships for decarbonisation.

 

Participants visited pioneering German green cities, including Mannheim, Münster, and Tübingen, recognised for their bold climate policies and innovation. In each city, we saw living examples of how structured governance, local collaboration, and sustained investment can make cities climate-resilient. For example, Mannheim is known for renewable energy and sustainable urban development, Münster for its bicycle-friendly infrastructure and low-emission policies, and Tübingen for climate protection initiatives and green urban mobility.

 

For Tema, our participation was strategic. As Ghana’s primary port and industrial city, Tema’s carbon footprint is larger than that of most cities. This reality places both a responsibility and an opportunity on us: to lead the country in industrial growth that is climate-conscious, adaptive, and resilient.

 

Bringing Africa’s perspective to the global stage

In a room dominated by cities that have been preparing for climate change for decades, I felt the weight of representing not only Tema or Ghana, but the broader African urban experience. I reminded my peers that, despite contributing less than 3% to global emissions, Africa suffers disproportionately from the climate crisis. Early and sustained investment in climate policy, communication, and implementation could help the continent avoid worsening the crisis in the years to come. The message was well received. Many global partners recognised that the next wave of sustainable growth will emerge from Africa’s rapidly urbanising regions.

 

Lessons from global leaders

What struck me most in Germany wasn't the municipal budgets or advanced technology—it was the systematic approach. They identify problems, engage stakeholders, pilot solutions, measure results, and scale what works. We can do this in Tema. Cities like Cologne have adopted waste management systems that rely heavily on citizen participation and strong local coordination. Berlin, despite its density, is reclaiming green spaces through creative projects like Flussbad Berlin. These lessons underscored a powerful truth: effective climate adaptation depends as much on governance and community inclusion as it does on infrastructure.

 

Building Tema’s climate future

Tema is not starting from zero. This visit reaffirmed that we already have a strong foundation; we just need to layer climate adaptation thinking onto our existing urban systems.

 

Our first step is a pilot project in Community 4, within the Republic Electoral Area. During our upcoming National Sanitation Day operations, we will test climate-smart approaches: identifying spaces for greening, assessing drainage patterns for potential rain harvesting, and engaging residents through participatory planning.

 

We are also formalising our Aboboya waste collection system. These informal tricycle waste collectors are essential to Tema’s sanitation chain. Instead of displacing them, we’re developing a structure that professionalises their work, integrates them with licensed waste companies, improves segregation, and reduces methane emissions.

 

In the coming months, we will also convene a Climate Stakeholder Forum to share lessons from Germany and align local priorities. We will also conduct a mapping exercise to identify flood-prone zones, public spaces for greening, and public facilities where rain harvesting systems can be introduced.

 

Over the next 2 years, Tema will:

Green all public spaces and road reservations using rain-harvesting systems for year-round maintenance.

Establish a formal waste collection system that integrates Aboboyas into the city’s sanitation framework.

Introduce climate considerations into building permits and development control, and launch a climate communications campaign involving youth, traditional leaders, and community organisations.

 

By 2035, Tema aims to be a model for sustainable decarbonised industrial cities in Africa, with climate-smart economic zones, a protected coastline, and a generation of young professionals trained in climate-responsive urban management.

 

A collaborative path forward

No city can tackle climate change alone. The visit to Germany revealed the power of networks—local assemblies learning from one another and communities co-owning climate action. The Association of German Cities model particularly struck me as one Ghana could adapt—a national platform that unites local governments around shared goals. Coordinated regional action will be essential, and Tema can help convene this network through support for initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA). 

I also intend to pursue partnerships with programmes and agencies in Germany and beyond, while exploring collaborations in technical training, landscape architecture, GIS data management, and urban planning.

Leading by example: Tema’s path to climate resilience

The disorder we sometimes see in Tema is not inevitable—it is the outcome of poor coordination and weak enforcement. What I saw in Germany convinces me that systematic planning and inclusive governance can transform even the most complex cities.

 

Tema already has strong legal frameworks, engaged traditional leadership, and active community structures. Our task now is to align them with a coherent vision for climate resilience. The transformation we seek is not utopian—it is methodical.

 

With persistence and partnership, Tema will not just adapt—it will lead. What we build here can serve as a blueprint for African cities ready to take ownership of their climate future.