Ghanaian Youths Trained And Charged To Participate In Climate Action

By Desmond Tinana

Some Ghanaian youths in Ho the Volta Regional Capital in Ghana, have been trained and charged to participate in climate action at their local assembly levels in order to address the issues of climate change. The training had assembly members, Unit Committee Members, NGOs, and individuals from different youth groups in attendance.

Isabel Nanaya Andam who works with the Strategic Youth Network for Development as the project lead for youth in climate action at the local level explained in her presentation at the training that Ghana’s vulnerability to climate change is notably high due to its geographical, economic, and social conditions. Coastal regions, such as the Volta Delta and Accra are particularly at risk. Key environmental impacts include rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions which are often caused by natural phenomena and human activities.

She explained further that climate change is causing severe impacts, including rising sea levels that threaten communities and extreme weather events.

Climate change has natural causes such as solar radiation and volcanic eruptions, but human activities have intensified these effects. Factors such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable economic development result in both environmental damage, such as droughts and floods, and social impacts, including displacement and property destruction, particularly affecting vulnerable communities, Miss Andam explained.

During one of the training sessions conducted by John Ntibure, the Municipal Planning Officer at the Ho Municipal Assembly (HMA) took participants through the processes that go into the planning and budgeting processes at the assembly and how they can partake in the activities of the assembly to advance the course of climate change.

Speaking to journalists Mr. Ntibre said from the assembly concept, “The youth are part of the assembly because the future is for them, so if they are not part of us and we are deciding what to do on their behalf in the near future, they will be in trouble.”
He went further to explain that climate issues are global issues and global solutions are needed to address them.

He mentioned that the HMA is embarking on some activities that will promote climate change, especially the oxygen city concept which seeks to create a conducive environment that will make the municipality continue to retain and maintain its status as the city in Ghana with the best air quality some of which include putting up
500 steps at Kabakaba Hill for health works and body exercises as well as building tourist parks and diplomatic parks where people and tourists can just go sit down and relax.

He, therefore, told the youths of the HMA to get involved in the activities of the assembly by joining general assembly meetings, asking what the assembly is doing, submitting proposals for projects, and learning the processes involved in creating development and action plans at the assembly.