Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Baba Seidu Issifu
The Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Baba Seidu Issifu, has stressed the need for climate change advocacy among Ghanaians.
According to him, despite this being a natural phenomenon, it is also inherently behavioural and arises through the actions of humans.
Assuming office on February 17, 2025, he noted that the vision by the president to set up the novel ministry to champion climate change and sustainability is duly welcome and a step in the right direction.
He added that the ministry will work to ensure that the president’s vision is actualized.
Speaking to a delegation from the University of Ghana led by the Provost, Prof. Gordon Awandare, he said: “We will all agree that the world is all about sustainability and actions from climate change. I feel that climate change is a behavioural issue even though we have natural factors that may lead to climate change. This is a novelty in Ghana for the president to have a minister of state to champion this.”
He noted that: “Climate change issues are not known. When you go to villages there are people busily burning bushes to chase rabbits and rats without knowing that there are consequences. Because this is a behavioural issue, advocacy, sensitization and education are key.”
Seidu Issifu noted that “His Excellency John Mahama has a vision and I’m sure in the long run we should be enacting laws about biodiversity conversations.”
Present among the delegation, was the Founding Director of the Institute for Environmental and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Chris Gordon, who expressed concern over the devastating impact of the ongoing heat wave on the productivity and mental health of Ghanaians.
According to him, research has shown that the current heat wave is slowing down the pace of work, inducing fatigue, and preventing people from achieving their work targets due to sleep deprivation.
“The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) tells us that the number of hot nights has increased, and these hot nights affect people’s ability to sleep and rest. Climate change also increases mosquito activity; when it’s warmer, they bite more,” he said.
“A lot of factors are working together to make people’s lives very uncomfortable when the weather is warm. We are experiencing temperatures of 35°C and above, and in these external settlements with metal walls and roofs, you may have eight or nine people sharing a room,” he added.
SSD/KA
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