Tamale, June 9, 2026 — More than 400 students, educators, and climate advocates have gathered at Tamale Senior High School as the Centre for Opportunities in Rural Development (CORD Ghana) and partners marked this year’s World Environment Day with a strong call for youth-led environmental action.
The event, organised in collaboration with Youth Challenge International (YCI), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Network of Youth for Climate Action Africa (NYCA Africa), Youth Alliance for Climate and Environmental Sustainability (YACES), and other partners, formed part of global efforts to raise awareness on environmental protection and climate change.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of CORD Ghana, Dr. Kodimah Siita, said the celebration was designed to strengthen environmental stewardship and empower young people as active agents of change.
“The earth we live on is borrowed from generations yet to come. It is therefore important that we protect and preserve it for them,” he said.
He emphasised that environmental sustainability requires practical action and behavioural change at all levels of society, noting that youth engagement is critical to securing a sustainable future.
Representing Youth Challenge International, Ms. Olivia Sayani highlighted the global nature of climate change, warning that climate impacts are increasingly interconnected across continents.
“The droughts affecting farmers worldwide, the wildfires in Canada, and the floods affecting communities across Ghana are all connected realities of climate change,” she said.
She urged young people to move beyond awareness and take leadership roles in climate action through advocacy, innovation, and community mobilisation.
The Education and Capacity Building Coordinator of NYCA Africa, Mr. Courage Kojo Opoku, also encouraged youth to actively participate in green job opportunities and climate solutions.
He stressed that environmental responsibility must extend beyond commemorative days into daily practice.
The Ghana Education Service reaffirmed its commitment to integrating climate action into school programmes through initiatives such as school gardens, waste management systems, and tree-planting campaigns.
Participants at the event attended environmental education sessions and pledged to champion sustainability initiatives in their schools and communities.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
