Nairobi: Mrs. Gifty Nyarko, Head of Planning at the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, has been honoured with the esteemed title of 'African Ambassador for Inclusive Urban Governance and Climate-Resilient Development.' The recognition was conferred on her during an award ceremony organized by the Conference of the Business Executive Group in Nairobi, Kenya, over the weekend.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Business Executive Group is an international organization that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through capacity building, awards, and economic forums across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In an interview, Mrs. Nyarko expressed deep gratitude for the continental recognition, saying it had strengthened her resolve to drive inclusive and sustainable urban development in Ghana.
The event brought together high-profile participants including CEOs, ambassadors, traditional leaders, and senior government officials from across Africa. Mrs. Nyarko was decorated by Ambassador Pavel Vziatkin, Belarus' representative to the African Union and UN-Habitat, for her commitment to community-led development and her visionary approach to inclusive urban governance and climate-resilient planning.
Emerging from a highly competitive pool of professionals across the continent, Mrs. Nyarko was described as an embodiment of a new generation of planners who blend local insight with inclusive and climate-conscious strategies to reshape African cities. She used the opportunity to call on African leaders to embrace diplomacy as a strategic tool-not just for political engagement, but also to attract sustainable investment and promote the creation of people-centered, climate-smart cities.
'Our cities must become investment-ready and people-focused, where climate justice and social inclusion work hand in hand,' she said. The award citation praised her transparency, accountability, resilience, and dedication to deep community engagement-attributes that continue to set her apart in the planning profession.