By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Christian community of Africa has cautioned African leaders to ensure greater transparency in the disbursement and management of climate finance.
The European Union announced on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, a $150 billion fund for Africa’s climate action.
According to the European Union, the creation of the fund is an attempt to back the continent with assistance to create jobs with a special investment plan on adapting to climate change, an additional stripe to a region that has perennially been accused of exploiting Africa for centuries.
The President of the European Union (EU), Ursula Von Der Leyen, said the European bloc was upending its dealings with Africa through the £150 billion ($156 billion) Global Gateway Investment Plan for Africa.
Similarly, the African Development Bank also allocated $25 billion towards the same course.
But speaking on behalf of the ecumenical community in Africa on the final day of the 2023 Africa Climate Summit, Reverend Dr Lesmore said such funds must be used judiciously to generate much interest among stakeholders in dealing with the devastating effects of climate change on the continent.
“We continue to pray and act rightly for the common good of all while calling for greater transparency in climate finance management. It is greatly going to be beneficial if a mechanism like what was used during the global fund to combat HIV, Malaria and TB, a country coordinating mechanism is very important, and if we can institute that, all the stakeholders within the country will find space in climate financing that will lead to greater adaptation and resilience for our people,” he added.
For decades, EU members extracted oil, gas and other natural resources in Africa to power their industries. Now the bloc itself wants to rid itself of dirty energy and has been pushing poor Africans to follow suit.
This change in policy has proven controversial, as some African countries want to enjoy the lately discovered resources before transiting.