British High Commissioner calls on Environment Minister

Mr Jon Benjamin, British High Commissioner, has called on Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation as part of efforts to understudy Ghana’s efforts to fight climate change.

Mr Opong-Fosu told journalists after a closed door meeting with Mr Benjamin, said September 20 to September 24 is slated for the United Nations (UN) conference on Climate Change, and President John Dramani Mahama is expected to address the UN on Ghana’s progress in combating the phenomenon.

The meeting would also offer Ghana the platform to present the country’s Ghana’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) aimed at providing the opportunity for a rethink of Ghana’s commitment to address the complex challenges of climate change.

He said the Government is moving climate change discussions beyond empty rhetoric by putting in place proactive governance mechanisms that are effective and far-reaching.

According to the minister Ghana has taken ownership of climate change challenges by putting in place context-relevant measures that are proactive to safe the nation.

He is of the view that climate change discussions in Ghana is left out of mainstream policy issues and does not get the needed attention, adding that, the NCCP has made provisions of all relevant measures to protect the nation against the environmental challenge.

Mr Opong-Fosu noted that the cause of destruction of farm land by climate change could affect Ghana’s long term plan on food security.

He said climate change could be the cause of the Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) which was mainly affecting people in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions where there the weather is hot.