Upper East Regional Minister Directs Assemblies to Mainstream Climate Action into Development Plans
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to integrate climate change adaptation and sustainability measures into their development plans and budgets to strengthen resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the Sub-National Stakeholder Engagement on Climate Change and Sustainability in Bolgatanga, Mr Atanga said climate change has become a pressing development challenge, with erratic rainfall, environmental degradation, and unpredictable weather patterns affecting agriculture, livelihoods, and local economic growth across Northern Ghana.
He noted that local assemblies play a critical role in implementing climate policies and called on technical officers and administrators to move beyond discussions by embedding practical climate adaptation measures into their medium-term development plans.
The stakeholder engagement, organised by the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, brought together Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, planners and other assembly officials to strengthen local capacity for climate governance and sustainable development.
Mr Atanga commended the organisers for decentralising national climate policy discussions, saying the engagement would equip local authorities with the knowledge and tools needed to implement effective climate interventions at the grassroots level.
He stressed that achieving Ghana’s climate goals would depend on the commitment of local governments to develop and execute long-term strategies that protect communities, safeguard livelihoods and promote sustainable development.
The engagement forms part of the government’s efforts to strengthen local institutions and ensure climate resilience is integrated into planning and decision-making across all levels of governance.
Faustina Naa Ayele Johnson, ISD
