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A woman walks in front of a building with an umbrella, covering her child and herself from the sun. This image represents the challenge of rising temperatures being experienced in Accra Ghana. As the centre for economic activities, Accra, the capital of Ghana, is affected by the heat island effect. As the city is growing in infrastructure, it is holding heat in giant buildings and roads made of concrete. In addition to this is the scorching sun, causing an increase in temperatures being felt in the city. The city, however, is employing innovative ways to regular temperatures. This is one of the few residential buildings with greenery I have come across. Aside from helping mitigate rising temperatures, buildings like this improve wellbeing.
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Men working at a construction site on George W Bush highway in Accra, Ghana. The expansion of the informal sector in Accra has led to much construction, but these new places being built are often built without any thought being put into the surrounding environment, and heat issues caused by concrete. Some groups have to bear the impact of rising temperatures more than others. Street hawkers and building construction workers are particularly vulnerable to it. These unidentified men working on a new construction have improvised to protect themselves from direct sunlight.
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Prince Acheampong, a 25-year-old hawker, seeks refuge from the scorching sun, recognizing the importance of taking regular breaks to cool down. After hours spent selling his wares under the direct sunlight, these moments of respite become essential for his well-being. "The sensation sometimes feels as if my body is aflame. The heat radiating from the cars I navigate through is intense" he shares.
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Prince hawks in traffic near the airport, under Accra's hot sun. Having completed high school, Prince made the journey from Kumasi to the bustling city of Accra in search of employment opportunities. He initially worked as a mobile money agent but found the earnings from his current occupation as a hawker in traffic to be more lucrative. Despite the challenges, Prince perseveres, living alone in Accra and relying on his determination to navigate the urban environment and support himself.
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Prince selling menthol to a motorist in traffic. This is one of the busiest roads in the city, heading towards the airport. This is where Prince works.
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Prince takes a break from the hot sun and chats with other street vendors on the shady sidewalk. shopping_cart BUY
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Elizey Friday, 22, stacks bricks on cement in a construction site. "I wear hoodies to protect myself from the direct sun, though hoodies trap heat on my body," he says. Elizey Friday arrived in Ghana in January 2022. He worked as an apprentice for four years in Nigeria before coming here. “I was invited by a friend to come to Ghana, so I arrived in January, and started working at this construction site. I work from seven am to five pm each day. I might return to Nigeria because they pay us better over there.” Says Elizey shopping_cart BUY
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Elizey and his colleague find relief as they wash their faces with refreshing water on a sweltering construction site HIDE
A solitary tree stands amidst crowded homes of Nima. Nima is one of Accra's slums, and being very dense, has very little space to house trees. This solitary tree stands amidst the houses, a rare sighting in this community. This is one of the few one will come across in the entire community. Without trees to provide it shade, and regulate temperatures, Nima faces an even bigger heat challenge than other parts of Accra. HIDE
Emmanuel Doku plants a tree in a residential compound in Accra, Ghana. Emmanuel Doku started planting trees 5 years ago, with the aim of mitigating the climate crisis and contributing to sustainable growth. Emmanuel is an activist and an educator. As such, he regularly goes to schools and communities to educate people about the importance of planting. "My goal is to plant 1 million trees nationwide for sustainable development goals. And the target is to achive this before 2030”. Emmanuel says
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Kuku and environmentalist proudly poses with a potted begonia plant, just one of the many green companions in his thriving indoor garden. With a collection exceeding 300 plants, Kuku's love for botanical beauty has flourished. As the temperature rises in Accra, he has experienced firsthand the cooling effects of his leafy friends. Embracing nature's gift, Kuku finds solace in the gentle breeze and shades provided by his abundant foliage, reducing his reliance on air conditioning.
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A harmonious blend of nature and urban life. The trees on this busy highway were planted on Green Ghana day, a government initiative to combat deforestation and promote environmental sustainability. 'Green Ghana' was started in June 2021, with the mission of planting 5 million trees in one day across the whole country to address deforestation caused by 'galamsey' (small scale mining) and harvesting of trees.
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A stunning building compound featuring a rooftop garden and flourishing trees along the George W. Bush Highway in Dzorwulu, Accra
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Lush greenery graces the pedestrian walkway leading to the shops at Achimota Mall in Accra, as strategically planted trees bring a refreshing coolness and combat the urban heat island effect. Offering shade and respite, they create a pleasant environment for visitors and shoppers from the mall.
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Two men find respite under a shade tree near a highway in Accra, taking advantage of nature's cooling refuge.
