The Environment Report, under the Connecting Communities Climate and Politics for Tomorrow (3CP) Project, has called on Ghanaians to prioritize environmental sustainability as they head to the polls on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
In a statement released on December 6, 2024, Charles Smith, the Project Coordinator, urged voters to consider candidates who are committed to protecting the environment amidst Ghana’s escalating climate change challenges. The country is grappling with extreme weather events, droughts, rising sea levels, ecosystem disruptions, loss of biodiversity, health risks, and soaring agricultural prices due to erratic water supplies.
The statement highlighted that these challenges are further worsened by illegal mining, deforestation, pollution, and poor waste management practices. Such issues undermine Ghana’s efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 13, and 15, all vital to the country’s socio-economic progress.
The Environment Report criticized the two major political parties, NPP and NDC, for their failure to commit to repealing L.I. 2462, a 2022 legislative instrument that allows significant degradation of forest reserves, including biodiversity hotspots. Despite recent campaign pledges to address climate change, illegal mining, and environmental degradation, both parties have yet to provide concrete plans.
The statement urged voters to evaluate the environmental policies and promises of all parties before making their choice. “Remember, our vote is our power,” Smith emphasized, calling for a collective push toward sustainability and climate resilience for a better future.
