Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, is urging global powerhouses to honor their commitments and fulfill promises made to African countries to enable the countries secure the funding necessary for the swift and effective implementation of their climate action policies.
In an interview with the BBC World Service on Thursday, 14th December 2023, on Ghana’s assessment of the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Mr. Jinapor explained that the focus of the conference allowed Ghana to remind the world of the ravaging effect of climate change and the need to accelerate plans for the building of a resilient global climate.
The Minister noted that the contribution of Sub-Saharan African countries to the global effort towards building a sustainable climate is ‘negligible’ and that the developed countries need to act immediately to empower the African countries to upscale their climate action plans.
Touching on Ghana’s participation at COP28, he disclosed that the country was impressed with the program which saw President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launch the ‘Resilient Ghana’ program which is Ghana’s climate action package.
The outdooring of the country’s package saw countries like the United Arab Emirates, US, and others committing financial support.
The Lands Minister appealed to them to fulfil those promises as the Ghanaian government believes that the package which is anchored on nature and forest-based solutions to climate change is the best for the world.
“Led by President Akufo-Addo, we participated fully in the conference. The President launched our policy on the sidelines of COP28. Ghana has an energy transition policy that focuses on renewable energy, sustainable production of power, and various other interventions which have been rolled out in various aspects of the economy,” he said.
Jinapor also disclosed that the country decided to accelerate its climate actions plans due to the impact already being felt in the country.
He noted with concern that climate change has impacted the country significantly with the agriculture sector the most affected. He said that the government has moved ahead with measures that it is convinced will stem the crisis.
“The weather patterns in our country have changed and rainfall patterns have changed as well. Agriculture has been impacted hugely and farmers are unable to predict rainfall patterns. The negative consequences of climate change have affected most sectors of the Ghanaian economy,” he said.
At the COP28, held from November 30 to December 13, 2023, Ghana signed an agreement which will see it receiving payment of up to Fifty Million US Dollars (US$50,000,000.00) for emission reductions of up to five million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, at a unit price of Ten Dollars (US$10.00) per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent.
