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

The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), winner of the 2024 Earthshot Prize in the “Clean Our Air” category, has officially presented the prestigious award to Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Issifu Seidu.

The high-level meeting also served as a platform to advocate for stronger collaboration between government and youth-led climate initiatives.

Led by Executive Director Richard Martey and Co-founder Desmond Alugnoa, the GAYO delegation showcased the organization’s groundbreaking Zero Waste Model, which earned global recognition during the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa. The model tackles waste at the community level, promoting sustainable management practices while generating green jobs for youth, women, and marginalized groups.

In 2023 alone, GAYO’s efforts diverted over 170 tonnes of waste—comprising 104 tonnes of organic matter and 66 tonnes of plastics—from landfills, significantly cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality. The initiative also created more than 70 green jobs and directly benefited over 5,000 people across participating communities.

Speaking during the presentation, GAYO Executive Director Richard Martey emphasized its collaboration with government institutions to scale up climate solutions.

“The Earthshot Prize is not just a recognition of what we’ve done—it’s a call to do more,” he said. “We’re ready to expand our Zero Waste Model across Ghana and beyond, and we believe partnership with the Ministry is key to scaling this impact.”

Co-Founder Desmond Alugnoa emphasized the significance of the award for Ghana and African youth.

“This is a collective win for Ghana and the African Youth. It proves that grassroots solutions can drive national transformation. It’s time to put community-led innovation at the heart of national policy and investment.”

The Minister warmly commended GAYO for its achievement, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering youth-led environmental innovations.

“GAYO’s success shows what’s possible when innovation meets commitment. We are proud of this achievement and are ready to explore formal partnerships to integrate their model into national strategies,” the Minister stated.

The meeting concluded with mutual interest in developing structured collaborations in community waste management, youth climate training, and regional scale-up initiatives. With the £1 million Earthshot funding and increasing global attention, GAYO is positioned to drive transformative environmental change across the continent.

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