GAYO presents 2024 Earthshot Prize to Minister, calls for stronger government partnership on sustainability

The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) won the 2024 Earthshot Prize. They received the award in the “Clean Our Air” category. GAYO presented the award to Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change, Issifu Seidu.

This meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between government and youth-led climate initiatives.

GAYO's delegation included Executive Director Richard Martey and Co-founder Desmond Alugnoa. They showcased their Zero Waste Model, recognized at the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. This model addresses waste at the community level and promotes sustainable practices while creating green jobs for youth, women, and marginalized groups.

In 2023, GAYO diverted over 170 tonnes of waste from landfills. This included 104 tonnes of organic matter and 66 tonnes of plastics. Their efforts significantly reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality. The initiative created more than 70 green jobs and benefited over 5,000 people in participating communities.

During the presentation, Richard Martey highlighted GAYO's collaboration with government institutions. He stated that scaling up climate solutions is essential.

“The Earthshot Prize is not just recognition,” he said. “It’s a call to do more.” He expressed readiness to expand their Zero Waste Model across Ghana and emphasized partnership with the Ministry.

Co-Founder Desmond Alugnoa spoke about the award's significance for Ghanaian and African youth.

“This is a collective win for Ghana,” he said. “It shows grassroots solutions can drive national transformation.” He urged placing community-led innovation at the center of national policy.

The Minister praised GAYO for its achievement and reaffirmed support for youth-led environmental innovations.

“GAYO’s success shows what’s possible when innovation meets commitment,” he stated. The Minister expressed pride in this achievement and interest in formal partnerships to integrate GAYO's model into national strategies.

The meeting ended with mutual interest in structured collaborations on community waste management, youth climate training, and regional initiatives. With £1 million from Earthshot funding, GAYO aims to drive transformative environmental change across Africa.