HONOURABLE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS,
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS,
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS,
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA,
OUR DEAR YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION FUND BENEFICIARIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Good morning.
It is a great honour and pleasure to welcome you all to this important occasion, organized to officially present micro-grants to the nine winning youth groups under the Nzema East Municipal Assembly Youth Climate Action Fund Project, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
On behalf of the Nzema East Municipal Assembly, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Bloomberg Philanthropies for supporting this initiative, which recognises the vital role young people can play in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in our communities.
Today’s ceremony is more than a grant presentation. It represents our collective commitment to empowering young people, promoting environmental sustainability and building a municipality that is better prepared to respond to the challenges of climate change.
Climate Change and Our Municipal Development Agenda
Ladies and gentlemen, climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Its effects are increasingly evident through changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, flooding, waste management challenges and other environmental pressures.
As a coastal municipality, Nzema East must pay particular attention to environmental protection, the sustainability of our coastal communities and the responsible management of our natural resources. Our livelihoods, especially those connected to fishing, agriculture, trading and other local economic activities, depend significantly on a healthy and sustainable environment.
We must therefore adopt practical measures to protect our environment, improve waste management, promote tree planting, conserve our natural resources and encourage climate-smart practices.
Message to the Nine Winning Youth Groups
To our nine winning youth groups, I offer my warmest congratulations on your success.
Your selection demonstrates your willingness to think creatively and contribute to solving environmental challenges within your communities. You should be proud of this achievement, but you must also recognise that it comes with responsibility.
The micro-grants being presented to you today are not simply financial assistance; they are an investment in your ideas, your leadership and your ability to make a positive difference.
I therefore urge all beneficiary groups to utilise the funds strictly for the approved purposes and ensure that every cedi contributes meaningfully to the objectives of your respective projects.
Appreciation to Bloomberg Philanthropies and Other Stakeholders
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to express our profound gratitude to Bloomberg Philanthropies for supporting youth-led climate action and giving young people the opportunity to contribute directly to local development.
This initiative reflects the importance of partnerships in addressing complex development challenges. When development partners provide resources and opportunities, and local authorities provide coordination and support, communities stand to benefit significantly.
The Nzema East Municipal Assembly remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and community development. We will continue to encourage collaboration among young people, development partners, community leaders and relevant institutions to ensure that climate action remains a shared responsibility.
Let us ensure that the projects supported today do not end with the disbursement of funds or the completion of a few activities. Instead, let them establish lasting practices that can be sustained, replicated and expanded across the municipality.
I call on our Assembly Members, traditional authorities, community leaders, youth organisations and all stakeholders to support these groups and create an enabling environment for their projects to succeed.
We must encourage our young people to take ownership of their environment, protect our natural resources and contribute to building communities that can withstand the effects of climate change.
Together, we can transform innovative ideas into practical solutions and make Nzema East a municipality where environmental responsibility, youth participation and sustainable development are central to our progress.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, today marks an important milestone in our collective efforts to empower young people and promote climate action in Nzema East.
To the nine winning groups, I congratulate you once again. You have been entrusted with an opportunity to demonstrate what young people can achieve when their ideas are supported and their potential is recognised.
Thank you for your attention, and may God bless us all.
Long live Nzema East Municipal Assembly!
Long live our youth!
