Minister for Climate Change Calls for Stronger District-Level Response to Climate Change
The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Mr Seidu Issifu, has called for stronger climate action at the sub-national level, saying local communities continue to bear the heaviest impact of climate change despite it being a global challenge.
Speaking during a Sub-National Stakeholder Engagement on Climate Change and Sustainability in the Savannah Region on Thursday, Mr Issifu said women and children were among those most affected by changing weather patterns, declining agricultural productivity, damage to roads and other public infrastructure, and increasing water insecurity.
He said these challenges demanded locally driven responses, with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies taking a leading role in building resilient and sustainable communities.
Mr Issifu noted that effective climate action could not be achieved without empowering local authorities to integrate climate issues into their development planning and decision-making.
He, however, acknowledged that many assemblies faced obstacles that limited their ability to respond effectively. These included inadequate financial resources, limited technical capacity, institutional constraints and competing development priorities.
The Minister said his office was working to address these challenges by strengthening coordination among institutions, mobilising climate finance and supporting climate action initiatives across the country.
He said these interventions would also help Ghana meet its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
Mr Issifu said the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify the Savannah Region’s climate priorities and discuss practical measures to strengthen climate governance and resilience at the local level.
The engagement brought together the Savannah Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, representatives of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, development partners and other stakeholders.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
