The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Mahama Ayariga has called on chiefs and stakeholders to take the issue of climate change seriously. He made the call at a day’s sensitization workshop on Ghana’s participation in the Paris Agreement on climate change in Tamale.
The forum is aimed at creating awareness about Ghana’s participation in the Paris climate Change Agreement and the country’s participation in the Intended National Determined Contribution ( INDC) to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Paris agreement, which involves 195 countries, requires all countries whether developed or developing, big or small to contribute towards solving climate change effects.
Two multilateral agreements were signed last year, namely the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement with individual countries expected to begin the implementation of the two agreements.
The forum was on the theme, “Implementation of Ghana’s Contribution.” The objectives of the forum are to provide a platform to raise awareness about the two agreements but with emphasis on the Paris Agreement, to inform stakeholders to take advantage of the climate investment opportunities and to get feedback which will be prioritized for early implementation.
In attendance were chiefs from the Dagbon traditional council, Mamprusi traditional council, Gonja traditional council and the Nanumba traditional council, queen mothers, CSOs, and members of the Regional House of Chiefs.
In his key note address, Mr. Ayariga stated that the happenings of climate change and its impact across the world are unequivocal and Ghana has not been spared because most of its economic sectors are sensitive to the impact of climate change.
In recent times, he said peasant farmers who rely heavily on the mercies of the weather to produce food for us, can no longer do so because the weather is becoming increasingly uncertain. ‘’The kind of impacts this situation will have on food security cannot be underestimated if immediate actions are not taken’’ he added. The minister therefore appealed to the public to avoid activities that can destroy the environment.
On his part the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Abdallah Abubakari said addressing the effects of climate change is a shared responsibility and called for the public to stop activities such as bush burning, deforestation, illegal mining (galamsey) and bad farming practices since they have the tendency of destroying the land.
By;Lilian Walter/zaaradio.com