PRESS RELEASE | After the floods: Eight Ghanaian cities pledge to turn climate plans into action

Following catastrophic flooding that claimed lives across Greater Accra, Mayors and Chief Executives from eight Ghanaian local governments pledge to turn climate adaptation plans into action — but say that citizens, government at every level, and partners must join them. TEMA, GHANA — [July 24th] — Eight of Ghana's coastal and climate-vulnerable municipalities have concluded a landmark two-day workshop last week with a shared commitment: to translate years of climate risk planning into concrete, fundable action — starting now.

Renewable energy as a vehicle for equity and urban resilience in sub-Saharan Africa

As cities across sub-Saharan Africa continue to grow, so too does the urgency to ensure that urban development is powered by energy systems that are reliable, affordable and equitable. This was the central message emerging from the recent Regional Dialogue on Renewable Energy, co-hosted by the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) Secretariat, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and REN21.

African cities are stepping up as climate leaders, and the data proves it.

In 2025, CoM SSA signatories were awarded over 100 badges for reporting on their climate action and sustainable energy progress.

Advancing access to finance for urban infrastructure in Africa

Positioning GIZ CoM SSA within Global Gateway at the EU Regional Business Forum in Abidjan

The EU Regional Business Forum held from 30 March to 1 April 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, brought together finance institutions, European investors, and public sector stakeholders, strengthening connections between the EU Global Gateway investment agenda and African government priorities, with African governments as partners and co-creators. GIZ, under the CIVIC Platform - Climate Resilient Infrastructure Investment in Cities, is one of the implementation partners of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), and joined the forum to showcase how locally grounded urban priorities can connect to the EU’s policy and investment mobilisation agenda.

Celebrating African cities leading on climate transparency

African cities are not only on the frontlines of the climate crisis, they are also actively responding, innovating, and setting the pace for locally led climate action. Despite facing escalating risks, cities across the continent are demonstrating that data-driven planning and local action can deliver powerful, people-centred climate solutions.

CoM SSA kicks off 2026 with strategic engagement with cities

Early in the year, CoM SSA co-implementing partners, Expertise France and GIZ, intensified engagement with partner cities to define cooperation priorities and prepare new partnerships to work on spatial planning, flood and water management, and waste management.

Opinion: Why Tema must lead Africa’s climate-smart urban future

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

This 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.

Bridging the gap: African cities prepare for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCC)

Global efforts to strengthen urban climate resilience advanced at the From Science to Action workshop in Bonn, convened by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), UN-Habitat, and the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). The session focused on one central question: how can the forthcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report lead to practitioner-oriented action in cities?

Celebrating a decade of driving local climate action in sub-Saharan Africa

This year, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA), the regional chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), is celebrating ten years of catalysing local climate action in the region. Launched in 2015, the same year as the historic Paris Agreement, CoM SSA has grown to over 400 local governments, committed to building sustainable, livable, safe and resilient communities powered by clean energy.

Advancing waste-to-energy solutions in African cities through EU collaboration

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) recently marked a significant milestone in supporting sustainable urban development with the implementation of the GCoM–Ökobit biogas pilot project across three African cities: Mombasa County (Kenya), Basse Area Council (The Gambia), and Sekondi-Takoradi Municipal Assembly (Ghana).

CoM SSA Mayors elevate local priorities in global advocacy events

November brought together urban, national, private sector and diplomatic leaders at three major global climate events, the Local Leaders Forum (LLF), the Urban Transition Mission (UTM) Summit and the long-anticipated COP30. Across these events, CoM SSA Mayors amplified the priorities and perspectives of African local governments, how city-level climate action is gaining momentum across the continent, and how, with the right partnerships, local leaders can scale these actions to drive meaningful, lasting change.

Celebrating 400 signatories: CoM SSA reaches a milestone in urban climate action

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) has officially surpassed 400 local governments, spanning 41 countries, each committed to building sustainable, livable and resilient communities, powered by clean energy. The milestone comes at a particularly meaningful moment, as CoM SSA — the regional chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy — marks ten years of championing local climate action on the African continent.