Denmark to aid Ghana on climate change

Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Government of Denmark and the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology on Thursday signed an agreement to organise a workshop for women and the youth on climate change. The workshop will sensitise the people at the grassroots on how climate change is affecting them.

Ms Sherry Ayittey, the sector Minister, signed on behalf of the Ministry while Mr Stig Barlying, Danish Ambassador to Ghana initialled on behalf of his country.

Recommendations from the workshop would be incorporated into Ghana's climate change policy to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. Under the agreement, the Danish Government will provide GHC154, 000 to the Ministry to organise the workshop. Ms Ayittey said climate change had become a developmental issue especially for developing countries because its effects threatened to derail the minimal gains those countries had made in socio-economic improvement.

"Indeed the effects of climate change, if not properly addressed will plunge us even deeper into poverty, deprivation and squalor," she stressed. Ms Ayittey said this had made it imperative to explain issues on climate change to people especially at the grassroots to enable them to appreciate its dynamics and support government and development partners to fashion-out and implement initiatives that could help mitigate its effects.

She said the workshop would be beneficial to women and the youth who were vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Ms Ayittey said local authorities would be encouraged to implement the recommendations to reduce the impact of climate change. Mr Barlying said it was ideal for the Danish Government to be associating with Ghana's preparations towards the UNCCC and expressed the hope that the country's policy would be in line with that of the African Union. 8 Oct. 09