Vice President on Copenhagen conference on climate change

Accra, Dec. 2, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on Tuesday called on developed nations to demonstrate more commitment towards reducing carbon emissions.

He said if possible, developed countries should reduce emissions to about 40 per cent below the 1990 levels, asking how much of emissions cut could be met as the world meet at Copenhagen, Denmark, next week to discuss climate change.

Vice President Mahama made the call at a national forum organized by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology as a preparatory meeting ahead of the International Climate change meeting on 7th December 2009, dubbed "Cop 15", where world leaders will meet to discuss the issue. "I expect that the world will sign a deal at Cop 15, Cop 15 must not fail humanity," he said.

Mr Mahama also advised Ghanaians to adopt energy efficient lifestyles, explaining that 50 per cent of energy usage in the country was used for lighting.

He, therefore, suggested that people switched to Candescent Florescent Light (CFL) bulbs and also to consider an alternative energy source such as solar.

Referring to the climate change as a development and governance issue, Vice President Mahama, said Africa was a poor victim, explaining that Africa's contribution to green house gases was low; however the continent would suffer the most in terms of the effect of climate change.

He said cocoa for instance could become a rare crop in the next 15 years if something was not done to reverse the effects of climate change. "Even some areas in the Brong Ahafo Region, which used to be a cocoa growing area, has been affected and these days cocoa does not grow well in those areas," Vice President said.

Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, said annual cost of climate change adaptation for Ghana would be between 300 and 400 million dollars per year from 2010 to 2050.

He said such monies would be use to cover agriculture, the coastal zone, energy, transport, social and regional integration. "Therefore government must anticipate and prepare for the stresses climate change is likely to add to the already challenging business of advancing development, alleviating poverty, assuring access to education and health care and moving towards gender equality."

Ms Ayittey said Ghana would need to enhance dialogue with neighbouring countries regarding the management of shared water resources and possible regional migration in order to effectively deal with the challenges of climate change.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa, who chaired the forum, expressed concern about certain illegal activities that destroyed the environment and said such activities should be checked. He mentioned the activities of galamsey (illegal mining) operators and said they were destroying the river bodies and urged citizens not to condone and accommodate such illegal activities. "Let's maintain our forest, environmental conservation is about the future," he stressed.