President Mahama praised for climate change ministry

President John Dramani Mahama has been praised for his visionary leadership in establishing Ghana’s first Ministry of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, marking a critical step toward addressing escalating climate threats to national development.

In a statement released on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, NexGen Deutsche-Afrik lauded the move as a timely response to the growing climate crisis but urged the government to fully empower the ministry with a clear mandate, dedicated funding, and strong inter-ministerial coordination to ensure effective policy implementation and monitoring.

Climate Change: A Threat to Ghana’s Development

The statement emphasized the devastating impacts of climate change on Ghana’s key sectors, including agriculture, water resources, energy, and health. Citing World Bank data, NexGen warned that over 130 million people globally could be pushed into extreme poverty due to climate inaction, with developing nations like Ghana bearing the brunt.

“Erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and land degradation are weakening food security and rural livelihoods, undermining the government’s socioeconomic investments,” the statement noted.

Call for Repeal of LI 2462 to Combat Illegal Mining

While commending recent crackdowns on illegal mining (galamsey), NexGen urged President Mahama to fully repeal Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 rather than amend it, arguing that the current framework has failed to effectively curb environmental destruction.

According to the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), illegal mining causes over GHS 1.2 billion in environmental damage annually, including deforestation, river pollution, and loss of arable land. The group warned that these activities significantly worsen Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions, undermining commitments under the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action).

Push for Green Investments and Climate Resilience

NexGen also announced plans to launch the “We Are The Earth” campaign, a pan-African initiative aimed at promoting climate justice and sustainable practices. The organization called for urgent measures to reclaim degraded forests and water bodies, expand renewable energy infrastructure, and support climate-smart agriculture.

Additionally, NexGen advocated for special funding and incentives for young entrepreneurs in renewable energy and agroecology, emphasizing the need for strong Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive green economic growth.

Pledge to Support the New Climate Ministry

The group extended congratulations to Issifu Seidu, the newly appointed Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, pledging collaboration on policy research, capacity building, and climate resilience projects.

“Ghana has a unique opportunity to lead Africa in climate action,” said Simeon Mede, Executive Director of NexGen Deutsche-Afrik. “We stand ready to support this journey with expertise and civic engagement to ensure a sustainable future for all.”

As climate challenges intensify, the call for stronger policies and greater investments in sustainability is growing louder. With the new ministry in place, stakeholders are closely watching to see if Ghana can emerge as Africa’s ‘Green Hub’ — a model for climate resilience and environmental stewardship.

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