The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and leader of Ghana’s delegation to the 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP14), Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei, has bemoaned Africa’s commitment towards addressing desertification and land restoration.
She said the fight on desertification and land restoration across the African continent is on a very slow pace.
The fight against climate change which is mainly attributed to man-made activities, she noted, is not limited to a particular country but rather cuts across borders hence the need for enormous investments to combat it.
She expressed confidence that adequate mobilization of financial resources through country contributions will help in this fight as a means of capitalisation for the implementation of programmes in the short and medium-term.
The Deputy Minister made these remarks in an exclusive interview at the backdrop of the 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP14), to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, in New Delhi India.
The 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties was organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in collaboration with the government of India on the theme – let’s move towards a greener future.
“The SDGs are a shared agenda. This means that the level of engagement with varied representatives will determine the extent to which we make progress. It will depend on how well we all Africa, the private sector, the public sector, and development partners engage to address our shared vision on climate change and adapted land use,” she said.
She further revealed that 50 percent of Ghana’s total land area is under the threat of desertification but she was quick to add that the Government of Ghana had established 192, 253, 19 acres of tree plantation and recently employed over 20,000 youth to plant about 10 million tree seedlings with the aim of reducing global warming.
She was hopeful that commitment will be made to mobilize technical and financial resources, from the public and private sectors through win-win partnerships, recognising that private sector investment is vital in creating green jobs and wealth along the wall and ultimately achieving the 2030 vision.
“This meeting is to exchange views on a myriad of opportunities the region offers, with an emphasis on sustainable value chains, renewable energy, and rural entrepreneurship,” she said.
