Ghana urged to establish National Climate Change Commission
The National Coordinator of Religious Bodies Network on Climate Change, Mr Charles Agboklu, has said there was the need for the government to establish National Climate Change Adaptation Commission to give it a legal backing to implement climatic change adaptation programmes.
Mr Agboklu, a member of the Ghana Climate Adaptation Network (Ghana CAN), made the call in Bolgatanga during the Ghana CAN Membership Mobilization drive in the Upper East Region on Tuesday.
The purpose for the forum was in response to Care International move to form Climatic Adaptation Network in the Upper East Region to serve as a strong platform to share information, collaborate with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the private sector and research institutions.
Mr Agboklu cited for instance that many Asian countries, by setting up independent Statutory bodies like Climate Change Adaptation Commissions and Authorities, had made significant contributions and implemented climate change adaptation programmes.
He said if Ghana desired to make significant impact in climate change, then, it must follow the Asian example by setting up independent statutory body like Climate Change Adaptation Commission or authority to solely oversee the implementation of the programme.
He said under the Ministry of Science and Environment, Climate change adaptation issues were scattered and said there was the need to constitute a Commission to fully take charge of that responsibility.
Mr Agboklu said research had shown that climate change would lead to greater food insecurity particularly on local millet including cocoa and other food and cash crops and that there was an urgent need for stakeholders, particularly government and CSOs to draw attention to issues regarding climate change.
Mr Bismark Ayorogo, President of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), said research had proved that the three northern regions would be most affected in the country from the effects of climate change and it had already started having a bigger toll on the people in the area.
He called on Network Members who are made up of CSOs Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to collaborate to tackle the menace, adding “Climatic Change is a multi dimensional phenomenon which needs multi-dimensional approach to deal with.” Participants noted that in the past farmers in the three northern regions used to get rains between May and June to undertake farming activities but now farmers start late by August due to unpredictable rainfall patterns, and blamed the situation on climate change.
They suggested that all Ministries and Departments should mainstream climate change adaptation programmes into their activities and ensure that they were implemented to the letter.
Mr Baba Tuahiru, Advocacy and Strategic Partnership Manager of Care International, said developed countries contributed most to the climate change phenomenon whilst the developing countries whose contribution were insignificant were the ones suffering most from the effects.
Source: GNA