The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has engaged members of the National Artisans and Traders Union of Ghana (NATOG) and market leaders in Accra as part of efforts to address the growing public health impacts of urban heat in the metropolis.

The engagement, held on Tuesday in collaboration with Vital Strategies brought together NATOG members at Darkuman and the Cable and Wireless area.

At the engagement, the Environmental Health Director of the AMA, Mrs Florence Kuukyi, said that although air pollution had received significant public attention in recent years, heat exposure posed an equally serious and increasing threat to public health, particularly for traders and artisans who worked outdoors for long hours.

She said the Assembly had decided to roll out protective programmes, including tree-planting initiatives and public education workshops, to reduce exposure and prevent heat-related illness and discomfort.

She mentioned heat rashes, fainting and general discomfort as some of the consequences the interventions were expected to reduce.

Prof. Richard Amfo-Otu, a consultant on the project, explained that changing weather patterns and rising heat levels were largely driven by human activities, attributing the situation to the cutting down of trees, the replacement of natural ground surfaces with concrete and pavement, and the use of certain building materials and paints that trapped heat.

He said these conditions reduced the ability of rainwater to soak into the soil and caused heat absorbed during the day to be released at night, contributing to discomfort and poor sleep conditions in urban areas.

He outlined health effects associated with excessive heat, including heat rashes, heat stroke, fainting and aggravated respiratory conditions, and stressed that vulnerable groups, including people with asthma, were at heightened risk and required targeted protection measures.

Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Director, a Deputy Director for Administration, Mr Michael Gyamfi, said that as part of proposed interventions, the Assembly planned to develop an Early Warning System to provide timely information on extreme heat conditions, similar to weather alerts.

He also mentioned the possibility of introducing public cold-water fountains in high-traffic areas as a cooling measure.

The President of NATOG, Alhaji Alhassan Suleiman, expressed appreciation to AMA and Vital Strategies for engaging traders and artisans directly and pledged the union’s support for initiatives aimed at improving public health and environmental conditions in Accra.