Ambassador of the European Union to Ghana H.E. Irchad Razaaly has met with key stakeholders in the country, including the Mayor of Accra Elizabeth Sackey to discuss major climate change-induced challenges in Ghana as well as the country’s participation in the 28th edition of the Convention of Parties (COP 28).
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the meeting, H.E. Irchad Razaaly disclosed that the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Elizabeth Sackey is set to represent other West African Countries at the COP 28 to be held in Dubai later this year.
The Sekondi Takoradi Mayor Abdul Mumin Issah and Madam Elizabeth Sackey who are both attending the conference on behalf of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) are expected to advocate for the concerns of cities in West Africa at the global climate event.
The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference will convene from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Citing the reasons for the stakeholder engagement on climate change H.E. Irchad Razaaly explained that about 70% of climate change-related emissions happen at the level of Cities and Municipalities hence the need to bring together the Mayors to deliberate on lasting local solutions to climate change-induced problems ahead of COP 28
“70% of the emissions which lead to climate change happen at the level of the cities municipalities because all the municipalities in the world in Ghana, Madrid, and Poland are sharing the same concerns in terms of service delivery, waste management, energy consumption, morbidity, and we felt it was the right opportunity to compare the notes and to prepare the mayor of Accra who is representing the municipalities of all West African countries at COP 28 and this was one of the key outcomes of the meeting”
Ambassador, Irchad Razaaly in his interaction with the media explained that the meeting also provided updates on the European Union’s effort to support climate action initiatives globally and in countries like Ghana. He disclosed that an amount of €40bn had been disbursed to support climate funding initiatives.
“Another reason was to assess what we are currently doing at the European Union with Ghana in order to address better the issue of Climate Change, from what we call adaption and mitigation I had the opportunity to remind that the European Union is leading the pack when it comes to climate finance we are spending €40bn in Climate funding. Funding developing countries as well to meet development and adaptation”
Participants at the meeting will include; H.E. Daniel Krull, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana; Honorable Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra
Metropolitan Assembly; Honorable Al-Atiff Tetteh Amanor, Mayor of Ningo-Prampram District Assembly; Honorable Anita Love Obo Amissah, Mayor of Awutu-Senya East Municipal Assembly; Honorable Yohane Amarh Ashitey, Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly; Mr Innocent Haligah, STMA Metro Coordinating Director (representing Abdul Mumin-Issah, Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly); Mrs Patience Agyekum, Strategic Youth Network for Development.