The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor has called on all stakeholders who will be participating in this year’s United Nations (COP27) climate change conference to collaborate with the Lands Ministry to ensure and achieve the needed climate action results.
He said since the impact of climate change was cross-cutting, it was important for the various actors in that space to have a united front to push for a common goal at the global platform.
COP27 is scheduled to take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expected to join President Joe Biden of the United States and other Heads of State and government at a Forests and Climate Leaders’ Summit, on November 7 to officially open the event.
At a pre-departure cocktail organised for the local COP27 delegates in Accra Thursday, Mr Jinapor called on the delegates to support efforts by the government to promote forest and climate-based initiatives to tackle climate change.
The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, foresters, representatives of related ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), members of the business community and ither stakeholders.
Underscoring the importance of the COP27 pre-departure event, he said the initiative created a platform for stakeholders to share ideas and contribute to discussions on the country’s expectations.
He said such a platform was critical because it would help to build on the momentum garnered at COP26 last year.
Mr Jinapor disclosed that with the help of the World Bank and the partnership for Forest, Ghana had secured a pavilion at Sharm El Sheikh to showcase the country’s climate actions.
The minister said the country’s COP27 pavilion would also be a good platform to woo investors and have partnership engagements.
Again, he said some side events have been lined up to take place at Ghana’s pavilion at COP27, including office of the Presidency.
Apart from this, he said there would be a roundtable tropical forest ministerial event to be hosted by the Lands Ministry to discuss forest solutions to climate change.