Environmental Protection

By Kwame Okyere Darko Bekoe

The Kakum National Park is a protected area in Ghana that is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life. The park is also a popular tourist destination. However, there are plans to mine for bauxite in the park, which has sparked a debate about the need to balance economic development with environmental protection.

The Ghana Diaspora Advocacy and Resource Foundation (GDAAR) is opposed to mining in the Kakum National Park. The organization believes that the environmental damage caused by mining would outweigh the economic benefits. GDAAR has called on the Ghanaian government to cancel the mining plans and to protect the Kakum National Park for future generations.

Key Issues

• The potential environmental damage caused by mining in the Kakum National Park.
• The need to balance economic development with environmental protection.
• The importance of the Kakum National Park for tourism and biodiversity.

GDAAR’s Position

• GDAAR is opposed to mining in the Kakum National Park.
• GDAAR believes that the environmental damage caused by mining would outweigh the economic benefits.
• GDAAR calls on the Ghanaian government to cancel the mining plans.

Recommendations

• The Government should conduct a comprehensive environmental impact assessment before making any decisions about mining in the Kakum National Park.
• The Government should consider alternative sources of bauxite that would not damage the environment.
• The Government should invest in sustainable development projects that would benefit the local community without harming the environment.

The Kakum National Park is a valuable natural resource that should be protected for future generations. GDAAR urges the Ghanaian government to heed the concerns of the Ghanaian people and to cancel the mining plans.

Additional Information

• The Kakum National Park is home to over 550 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, and 350 species of butterflies.
• The park is also a popular tourist destination, generating millions of dollars in revenue for the Ghanaian economy each year.
• Mining in the Kakum National Park would destroy a significant amount of forest habitat and could lead to the extinction of several plant and animal species.

GDAAR believes that the Ghana Government has a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. The organization calls on the government to cancel the mining plans and to invest in sustainable development projects that would benefit the local community without harming the environment.

By Joseph Bekoe

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo delivered a strong speech at the Africa Climate Summit on Tuesday, 5th September 2023, calling for bold action to address the climate crisis.

“Climate change is a global emergency, and Ghana calls on all Parties to act with equity and a sense of responsibility,” Akufo-Addo said. “Africa, for her part, must commit herself to resolve the issue of climate change by implementing ambitious measures within her reach.”

Akufo-Addo pointed to the devastating impacts of climate change that Africa is already experiencing, including more frequent and severe droughts, floods, and heat waves. He said that these impacts are threatening food security, water security, and economic development across the continent.

“We cannot afford to wait any longer,” Akufo-Addo said. “We must act now to build a climate-resilient future for Africa.”

Akufo-Addo called for a number of specific actions to be taken, including:

• Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable agriculture
• Adapting to the impacts of climate change
• Providing financial assistance to climate-vulnerable countries

He also called for the developed countries to fulfill their promise to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance to developing countries.

“We need the developed countries to step up and deliver on their promises,” Akufo-Addo said. “We cannot solve this crisis alone.”

Akufo-Addo’s speech was well-received by the other participants at the Africa Climate Summit. They acknowledged the urgency of the climate crisis and pledged to work together to address it.

The Africa Climate Summit is a key moment in the global effort to combat climate change. The summit’s outcome will be closely watched by the international community, and it is hoped that it will lead to concrete action to address the climate crisis.

In addition to his speech at the Africa Climate Summit, Akufo-Addo has also taken a number of other actions to address climate change. In 2021, he launched Ghana’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. He has also committed to making Ghana carbon neutral by 2050.

Akufo-Addo’s leadership on climate change is an important example for other African countries. It shows that it is possible to take bold action to address the climate crisis, even in the face of significant challenges.