The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced plans to amend its existing bye-laws to incorporate heat-health provisions to strengthen the city’s preparedness and response to rising urban heat risks.

The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey who disclosed this on Monday after a management meeting, said the amendments follow a comprehensive review of the Assembly’s governance framework, including its Resilience Strategy, Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP 2026–2029), and existing regulatory instruments, which identified significant gaps in addressing the growing threat of extreme heat.

He explained that the amendments would introduce new provisions to recognise heat as a public health risk and equip the Assembly with legal authority to implement and enforce heat-related interventions during extreme weather events.

According to him, the revised bye-laws would provide for safety measures across key sectors, including markets, transport terminals, and temporary structures, where exposure to extreme heat remains high.

The Mayor indicated that the reforms form part of a broader effort to align the Assembly’s regulatory framework with emerging climate realities and protect vulnerable populations, particularly outdoor workers and residents in high-risk communities.

Presenting the findings of the review, Prof. Richard Amfo-Otu, Consultant for the Accra Urban - Heat Management Project explained that although AMA has established structures for urban resilience, urban heat remains insufficiently recognised and integrated across policy, planning, and regulatory systems.

He noted that, the current bye-laws do not recognise heat as a public health hazard, adding that buildings could meet existing standards while still posing thermal risks to occupants. According to him, this regulatory gap has left many residents, particularly the elderly, children, and outdoor workers, exposed to increasing heat-related health conditions such as heat stroke and dehydration.

Prof. Amfo-Otu further indicated that the review uncovered gaps across key sectors, including building regulation, public markets, transport services, and informal economic activities, all of which lack enforceable provisions to mitigate heat exposure.

He stated that the proposed amendments would introduce new legal definitions such as “excessive heat” and “heat-health risk,” while also mandating passive cooling designs, improved ventilation, and shading infrastructure in buildings and public spaces.

He noted that the proposed reforms would introduce occupational safety provisions and allow for flexible operational measures during heat emergencies.

He emphasised that green infrastructure, including trees and urban vegetation, would be formally recognised and protected as public health assets under the amended regulatory framework, given its role in reducing urban heat.

Prof. Amfo-Otu noted that the absence of a coordinated governance structure and early warning systems had limited the city’s ability to respond proactively, stressing the need for institutional and legal reforms.