No One Can Tackle Climate Crisis Alone — Mary Addah Rallies Stakeholders
Source: Ghenvironment.com - July 11, 2025
Samuel Gyasi
Some participants at the stakeholder dialogue
Speaking at a National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate Policy Implementation in Accra, Mrs. Addah emphasized that meaningful progress in addressing Ghana’s climate challenges requires sustained collaboration among government, civil society, and local communities.
“It’s become clear that we urgently need more collaboration, deeper stakeholder engagement, and broader public education,” she noted. “There are so many critical issues being raised that many Ghanaians remain unaware of, and civil society has a duty to bridge that knowledge gap.”
Mrs. Addah highlighted the indispensable role of civil society organizations in collecting community perspectives, relaying them to policymakers, and ensuring that climate policies reflect the realities of ordinary citizens. She warned that isolated efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, would fall short of delivering lasting impact.
She also raised concerns about the sustainability of time-bound climate projects, urging stakeholders to work closely with government the lead policy driver to maintain momentum and continuity even after project timelines lapse.
In addition, Mrs. Addah stressed the value of partnerships in mobilizing credible data, resources, and expertise to meet Sustainable Development Goal 17, which promotes multi-stakeholder collaboration for sustainable development.
“We must not come, talk, and leave,” she charged. “We owe it to ourselves and to our environment to ensure that the powerful issues raised here today don’t end within these four walls.”
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Ama Awo Yaa Brew, Programme Officer at the Minister’s Office, reaffirmed government’s commitment to inclusive and people-centered climate action.
Ms. Brew commended Transparency International Ghana and its partners for convening the timely dialogue, stressing that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an urgent crisis, with deadly floods in Accra and worsening droughts in northern Ghana offering stark evidence.
She urged stakeholders to critically examine who benefits from existing climate policies and who gets left behind, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities in rural areas.
The multi-stakeholder dialogue, held in Accra, convened over 100 participants from government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners to foster collaboration and strengthen climate governance in Ghana.
Awula Serwah
We face an existential threat.
Civil Society Organisations have been asking for a targeted state of emergency to remove illegal miners from our forest reserves and water bodies
They have also asked for the repeal of LI2462 which allows mining in forest reserves, and EI144 which declassifies part of Achimota Forest, the lungs of Accra.
The President whilst in opposition, promised to repeal LI2462, a low hanging fruit. We are still waiting. Time is running out. We are on the verge of an ecological catastrophe.
July 11, 2025
Kwaku
These stakeholder engagements are all well and good for airing views, but what will change if the many representatives of Government departments at the meeting say the right things in such forums, but do not press their bosses, ministers and political masters on some of these existential issues? We notice the issue of the repeal of LI 2462, which was brought up in the meeting, wasn't mentioned in the article. There will be no action on climate change, if we are not prepared to take action!
July 12, 2025
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