President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted the positive outcomes of the ban on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions.
He made these remarks during his address at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The summit is being attended by over 30 African Heads of State and government and heads of international organizations as part of Africa Climate Week and to find a common voice ahead of the COP28 Summit to be held in Dubai, UAE.
During his speech, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that the prohibition of galamsey, which has been responsible for the degradation of water bodies and forest reserves, has played a pivotal role in diminishing carbon emissions in Ghana.
He highlighted that various flagship policy initiatives, including “Planting for Food and Jobs,” “One Village, One Dam,” and the ban on illegal mining, have collectively contributed to lowering carbon emissions while bolstering the nation’s resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.
He went on to emphasize that these policy initiatives have already yielded positive outcomes in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the pursuit of reducing carbon emissions.
President Akufo-Addo used the platform to urge other African nations to take similar measures aimed at curtailing carbon emissions and strengthening their capacity to confront the challenges posed by climate change.
For his part, President William Ruto stressed the need for Africa to find solutions to global challenges and added that he was encouraged by the turnout of the participants.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, taking her turn, reaffirmed the commitment of Europe to remain strong partners with Africa and to tackle the challenges of climate change globally.
In a related development, President Akufo-Addo and his Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi.
The two leaders interacted on a wide range of issues, particularly the climate challenges confronting the continent.
The two leaders agreed to further deepen their cooperation for the benefit of their citizens.
