Penuel Charis Consultancy is proud to be implementing a research project titled “Heat and Health: Modelling and Exploring the Impact of Climate Change in At-Risk Communities in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana.” This project is led by Clinton Sekyere Frempong, Co-founder and Manager of Penuel Charis Consultancy, and is funded by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH).
Project Focus
Rapid urbanisation and climate change are driving rising temperatures across cities like Accra. Extreme heat is increasingly recognised as a major public health risk, yet its impact on mental health, especially in low- and middle-income settings, remains underexplored. This study focuses specifically on women living in at-risk urban communities in the Ashaiman Municipality, where heat exposure is often intensified by environmental and socio-economic conditions.
What the Project Will Do
The project combines climate science and public health research to:
- Analyse historical climate data (1991–2024) to understand heat trends
- Model future heat projections under climate change scenarios
- Map the spatial distribution of heat across communities
- Assess how heat exposure affects mental health outcomes, including stress, anxiety, and depression, among women
- Synthesise global evidence on climate change and heat in low- and middle-income countries
Why This Matters
Communities such as Ashaiman are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat due to high population density, limited green spaces, and housing conditions that trap heat. Despite these risks, there is limited local evidence to guide policy and interventions.
This project aims to bridge that gap by generating evidence to support:
- Climate-resilient health planning
- Urban adaptation strategies
- Mental health policy and programming
- Data-driven decision-making for vulnerable populations
Expected Impact
Findings from this study will be shared with key stakeholders, including health authorities, local government, and community members, through workshops, policy briefs, and publications. The project ultimately seeks to contribute to building healthier, more climate-resilient urban communities in Ghana and beyond.
