Abidjan has turned an environmental nightmare into a vibrant urban dream with the opening of Akouedo Park—a lush, 100-hectare green space built atop a former landfill. For decades, the site plagued residents with toxic waste, health hazards, and crime, but after a $221 million government-led transformation, it now boasts sports facilities, walking trails, and even biogas energy from buried trash. Locals, who once endured pollution-linked diseases, celebrate the change. The project also created 750 jobs and includes a market, school, and eco-education center. As African cities grapple with waste, Abidjan’s innovative makeover offers a blueprint for turning blight into community pride—one reclaimed dump at a time.
France24
