The project dubbed "Youth Climate Action Grant", would be implemented in Kumasi Anglican Senior High School (KASS) and Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI), with the aim of promoting plastic free environment in the two schools.

The KMA is a beneficiary of the Youth Climate Action Fund launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies, to
provide technical assistance and funding for 100 Mayors to activate thousands of young people to design and produce climate solutions.

The Assembly received USD 50,000 dollars to be disbursed as microgrants to fund youth-led climate initiatives in the Metropolis.

It has consequently approved 14 out of 30 applications received for funding from various youth-led climate solutions across the Metropolis.

In partnership with the Metro Education Directorate, the RRIG seeks to create awareness on the effects of climate change on local environments and the reduction of post-consumer plastic waste in the selected schools.

The project would also seek to sensitise the students on the benefits of separating plastic waste from organic materials.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Kumasi, Ms. Mary Baafi, the Project Officer of RRIG, said the overall goal was to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 which focuses on building sustainable cities and communities.

As part of the project, plastic waste would be kept in containers placed at vantage points in the respective schools to facilitate their collection, she explained.

Ms. Baafi said: "When the schools are rid of plastic waste, they will be free from breeding grounds for mosquitoes hence the incidence of malaria will be reduced for both students and staff."

According to her, all post-consumer plastic waste would be cleared of organic matter before depositing in the bin, adding that, the organic waste would be used for compost which would serve as organic manures for school farms.

In addition, the schools would make money from the plastic waste by selling to buyers who would be linked to the schools as part of the project.

Mr. Charles Kwasi Adjei of the KMA Planning Unit, said the project presented an opportunity for Kumasi to return to the days when it was referred as the "Garden City" and urged all stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel. "As city authorities, we cannot do this alone and we want to do this together with stakeholders like yourselves," he reminded them.

He entreated the participating schools to own the project as direct beneficiaries so they could build on the lessons learnt to sustain environmental cleanliness beyond the project.