By Felix Coffie
President Akufo-Addo has stated that it is the determination of his government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by some 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and thus enhance Ghana’s resilience and adaptation to climate change, by improving early warning systems, promoting climate-smart agriculture, restoring degraded lands, and protecting coastal zones.
Speaking at this year’s Green Ghana Day at the University of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said this bold and ambitious target reflects the country’s vision of becoming a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
He said since most of our emissions come from land use change, achieving these targets requires that we take urgent steps to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, such as agricultural expansionist activities, illegal mining, illegal logging, and wildfires, among others.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the Green Ghana Project is, therefore, crucial to delivering on Ghana’s commitments, both in the Nationally Determined Contributions and to the international community.
“We have a history of leading the charge when the need arises, and our climate actions cannot be different. We must continue to work together to ensure that our contribution to the climate solution is positive, transformative, and sustainable.”
He said he is proud of the successes chalked up over the first two years of implementation of the Green Ghana Project; hence, it is important to review the target downwards this year to devote some time and resources to nurturing the over 23 million trees that have survived over the two years.
He said the 2023 Green Ghana Day is another opportunity to reaffirm government’s commitment to saving the planet and protecting livelihoods. The theme for this year, “Our Forests, Our Health,” is a clarion call for the need to preserve our forests for our own survival.
“We must do this with a sense of urgency and a renewed purpose, noting that success depends on our collective action. This is a duty we owe, not only to the current generation but generations yet to come.”
