“Young People to become agents of change” – Forestry Commission

ACCRA, 18 Nov (AIF SHOW, E.K.Bensah)-Mr. Yaw Kwakye of the Climate Change Unit at the Forestry Commission says he wants young people “to become agents of change” on climate change. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Africa in Focus Show recently, the Head of Climate Change said that to this end, a campaign, dubbed “REDD-eye” would be launched on 21 November at the headquarters as part of activities to sensitize the youth to become involved in fighting climate change.

Although the Forestry Commission has a mandate to protect resources of the country, and ensure posterity is left with, as Kwakye put it, “better forest endowment than we inherited”, they have spent an inordinate amount of time working on climate change – specifically REDD+.  An acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, with the + representing activities that offer co-benefits such as biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management and carbon stocks enhancement, REDD+ is an activity whose successful implementation will help reduce the impacts of climate change in developing countries like Ghana.

Yaw Kwakye believes forests are of immense benefits, and have both tangible and intangible benefits. The tangible ones include timber and timber products, with the intangible ones representing the wildlife, which provides an important “component of our food (protein), particularly for our forest-dependent communities”, he added. The problem, he went on, has been an over-harvesting of wildlife “to such an extent [they have been] unable to sustain wildlife population because of over-hunting.”

According to the Forestry Commission official, “the forest provides protection for water heads, which form sources of various important rivers in this country, including Atiwa Forest”, which serves 75 percent of the Greater Accra region.

Pressed on some of the planned activities, Mr.Kwakye said that there would be two major activities: the first is the “REDD Eye” Campaign. The other is the First National REDD+ Forum, which will be held on 25 November.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Climate Change Unit will together with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI), launch the REDD Eye campaign.  The idea of these two activities is to sell and secure buy-in for the REDD+ mechanisms from Ghanaians.

Scheduled for Saturday, 21 November, the objective of the campaign is to create awareness among the youth, who are considered future leaders of Ghana. By targeting them early, the Commission believes they can be sensitized to plant and nurture trees as one of the ways to mitigate climate change. Those invited included second-cycle schools and youth groups across the country. There will be presentations from youthful resource people on a number of climate change-related issues, including the impacts of it on Ghana; impacts of deforestation and forest degradation in Ghana; and an overview of REDD+ and Ghana's Emission Reduction programme.

There will ultimately be “REDD EYE” Clubs established in various schools, where sensitization, tree-planting and other REDD+ activities will be implemented to assist in the fight against climate change. There will also be a nation-wide campaign in all ten regions, which purpose would be to sensitize the youth on climate change.

The second most important activity is that of the first-ever National REDD+ Forum, which is organized by the National REDD+ Secretariat of the Forestry Commission, which aim is to climax activities to sensitize Ghanaians and obtain buy-in for the REDD+ mechanism
Planned for 25 November at the Accra International Conference Centre, the theme for the event is “Conserving our Forests for Better Lives and a Better Climate”.

On the bill as keynote speaker is Ghana's former president and the UN Special Envoy for Climate Change H.E. John Agyeman Kuffuor. The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr.Samuel Afari Dartey, will launch Ghana's National REDD+ Strategy, while Mr. Ishmael Yamson, Chairman of Unilever Ghana, will chair the event.

Some of the topics for discussion include “REDD+, the State of Play”; “National Efforts to Combat Climate Change”; the role of the private sector in addressing climate change; and mobilizing climate finance in Ghana. An interactive session will follow the presentations, where participants will obtain the opportunity to ask questions to resource people. There will also be an exhibition by REDD+ actors as a side event, including musical performances by Climate Change Ambassadors Okyeame Kwame and MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffuor (Obuor).

The event is open to the public, and Mr. Yaw Kwakye wants people to “think development; think sustainability; think REDD+!”

ENDs

#STCAgric: Nepad, AU Want STC to Focus on COP21

Nepad, AU Want STC to Focus on COP21

George Mhango
October 06, 2015

A meeting of experts convened by the African Union and Nepad aimed at establishing specialized technical committee (STC) has agreed to present agriculture, water, rural development and environment as major issues during the Cop21 in Paris, France.

The Conference of Parties (COP) 21 is expected to be held in December this year with continental experts likely to present what they perceive as challenges following thorough research and consultations.

Cop21 Logo

News has it that COP21 will be a crucial conference, as it needs to achieve a new international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

To this effect, the STC, which comes into effect this week following revision and examination of terms of reference (ToRs) is expected to do just that on behalf of the continent with clear backing of Nepad and AU.

Head of Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Dr Augustin Wambo Yamdjeu said in an exclusive interview on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa that the idea to have the STC makes the work of the department easier because water, agriculture, rural development and environment are directly linked.

The STC will have to have something in their folders ahead of the COP meeting. This also follows what the Malabo Declaration called for and that is multisectoral approach as backed by the AU decision in 2011 to have a fully-fledged integrated governance structure to champion such matters,” he said.

The Malabo Declaration, which calls on African leaders to walk the talk on championing agricultural matters, is a follow up to the Maputo Declaration which called on various governments to commit 10 percent of their budget towards agriculture.

Initially, Malawi is one of the shining examples of a country in which has over the years committed about 10 percent towards the annual budget for the farm input fertilizer subsidy programme (FISP), according to local and international economists.

Dr Yamdjeu said a lot of research findings show that climate change has had an impact on food security, water and environment, despite that CAADP is advocating for climate smart agriculture (CSA) and conservation agriculture.

We hope that after Paris something will be agreed upon for Africa and other countries. Africa needs to critically rethink on the matter, hence the need for the committee to come up with pertinent issues to be presented to COP21,” he said.

He said ministers responsible for agriculture, water, rural development and environment as part of the specialized technical committee will take the matter to the conference of parties (COP) 21 as an area that needs more attention.

Currently experts through the established bureau are behind closed doors to craft a working template for the STC.

The STC, which will comprise ministers from member states of the AU will have a mandate of examining, reviewing and considering adoption of policies and strategic frameworks designed to develop agriculture, water, rural development and environment on the continent, among others.

Notes from the 2011 meeting also show that STC’s shall be responsible to the executive council of African Union in championing water, agriculture, among others for the betterment of the African continent.

source: http://waterjournalistsafrica.com/2015/10/06/1858/

COMING UP!>>Episode 47: Revisiting Climate Change: Ghana’s Preparation Towards COP21!

 Episode #47:

Revisiting Climate Change: Ghana’s Preparation Towards COP21!

With just five months left to go before the Paris Climate Change negotiations in Paris, we want to use ep.47 of #AfricainFocusShow to speak to both civil society and government on the important steps that need to be considered before Paris.

A Guardian Paper report of 6 July states that in the EU Commissioner for Climate Action Miguel Canete’s opinion, there is “no plan B” if the Paris Climate Conference ends in failure.

The report maintains the Commissioner is deeply concerned by the lack of negotiating time remaining before the conference, which is supposed to offer sweeping new measures to help poor nations adapt to the ravages of global warming.

In Ghana, government has straddled the divide between adaptation and mitigation. What is its real position on climate change, especially now that Ghana has a National Climate Change Policy?

If COP21 is truly a make-or-break meeting, then a discussion like this is critical many months before, especially because 24 July is the deadline for when a draft text needs to be ready for discussion in Paris!

Call us on the following numbers when we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 // +233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can at 1pm on 7 July, 2015.

Guiding questions

·       Is Ghana ready for COP21(2015 Paris Climate Conference)?

·       What is clear picture by government on its preparations?

·       Mitigation or adaptation? What is government’s position?

·       How important is reforestation for government in the road to COP21?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Kwame Mensah, KASA Secretariat

Ø  Yaw Kwakye, Head of Climate Change, Forestry Commission

Ø Dr.Emmanuel Tachie-Obeng, Principal Programme Officer, Environmental Protection Agency

Guests on the line:

Ø  Samuel Alovernu, WorldReader @13h20

AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 25 November, 2014: 25th Edition SPECIAL: Celebrating the 25th Africa Industrialisation Day; and Unearthing Voices on Africa’s Development (1): “Seeing the Wood for the Trees”

25^th Edition SPECIAL:

Celebrating the 25^th Africa Industrialisation Day; and Unearthing Voices on Africa’s Development (1):

“Seeing the Wood for the Trees”

 Even as AIF is at the cusp of its 7^th month, 25^th November will be the 25^th Edition of the show.

This special edition is dedicating the first part of the show to seeing the wood for the trees around Ghana, and Africa’s industrialization policy. In the light of the furore around chairs in Ghana’s parliament being imported from China, we will be speaking to a member of Ghana’s furniture and wood association who will tell us why they issued a statement only last week about their concerns on aspects of Ghana’s industrial policy.

Still on wood, we will speak to Coordinator of ForestWatch, Samuel Mawutor, who will give us insights into the relationship between the Chinese and Ghana’s Rosewood, and what specific policies the government has adopted on how to save Rosewood from being exploited by the Chinese who import no less than 96% of that wood. What does the attitude around Rosewood tell us about Chinese attitudes over Ghana’s industrial policy, and the country’s fight against climate change?

Finally, in the second part of the show, we will commence what will be a series on unearthing voices on Africa’s development. What this means is that we will be speaking to professionals who hold robust views on aspects of Africa’s development. This can be on any topic, so we are starting off with Araba Arhin, who once worked with the West Africa Commission on Drugs,  and has deep insights into the sub-region’s fight against narcotics and drug trafficking.

We will switch gears to speak to a lady who has dedicated the better part of her career to bringing NGOs together in what is an-otherwise very competitive and territorial sector.  And, as always, we will not only get an update on Ebola from Kobby Blay, but actually be picking his brain on the way forward on Africa’s health.

Guiding Questions to be answered:

·        What is FAWAG, and its message to policymakers, including the government, on the way forward on Ghana’s industrialization?

·        Are the Chinese helping or hindering Ghana’s development?

·        Why is Rosewood important to Ghana, and the fight against climate change?

·        What were major outcomes of the four-day Forest Forum held last week?

·        What is West Africa Commission on Drugs doing to contribute to regional drug policy?

·        Why is the fight against drug trafficking in West Africa especially important?

·        Why do NGOs need to collaborate? And why is there a sense of urgency around working together?

·        How is the EbolaWatch campaigning to sustain the momentum on awareness-raising on Ebola?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Araba Arhin, translator, and former WACID official

Ø  Kobby Blay, Ebola Watch

On the line:

·        Enoch A Sackey, Office Manager, Furniture & Wood Products Association of Ghana(FAWAG) @13h20

·        Samuel Mawutor, Civic Response/Coordinator, ForestWatch @13h35

·        Nadia Zeine, Director, Wishes Alliance @14h00

AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 18 November, 2014: Deforestation, Climate Change; and Matters Arising(3)

Climate Change; Deforestation; and Matters Arising(3)

 

There is now what some might consider compelling evidence of the planet warming up.  Evidence recently released by scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has shown that climate change is occurring at a faster rate than the world could ever have imagined.

Statistics from Ghana’s inventory of forestry stock indicate that Ghana has lost a chunk of its forest cover since 1994, despite the inevitable warming of the planet. It is believed that if sufficient attention is not given to redress this imbalance of loss of forest cover, the country will be all the worse for it. This is because lack of forest cover allows direct exposure of sunlight and the sun’s rays to dry up the already-polluted and fast-dwindling water –bodies.

Research indicates that developing countries are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change as their livelihoods are highly-dependent on climate-sensitive sectors, such as agriculture. Given that Ghanaian peasant farmers practice rain-fed agriculture, depending on weather patterns for their farming, and tend to include slash-and-burn methods that prove to be unsustainable and harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere, this significantly-contributes to global warming. Consequently, Ghana has witnessed higher temperatures than normal, as well as inconsistent rainfall patterns.

One way in which Ghana has been trying to deal with this has been through the use of the REDD+ mechanism, which is being coordinated by the National REDD+ Secretariat of the Forestry Commission.

On 29 July, AIF commenced what would be a series of editions examining and understanding Ghana, and Africa's forestry sector.

Having established from that programme, and from the 23^rd September edition that reprised the issue of deforestation and climate change, that deforestation is a major issue in understanding the sector, we want to dedicate the 24th edition of Africa in Focus from the premise that apart from the fact that deforestation is an acknowledged challenge for the country, what is it that civil society groups like ABANTU are doing to sensitise Ghanaians about its impact on women.

Finally, in looking at the way forward, we will find out why Civil society organisation Civic Response is convening a National Forest Forum, and why it is important in facilitating governance on natural resources, and most importantly, helping nip deforestation in the bud!

Guiding Questions to be answered:

·        What do we still need to know about deforestation, and climate change, and some of the challenges associated with it in Ghana? (Forestry Commission/Forestwatch/ABANTU)

·        What were some of the outcomes of the Forestry Commission’s National Roadshow on REDD, and what is the way forward for the Forestry Commission?

·        What is the National Forest Forum, and how does it help facilitate governance on forests?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Robert Bamfo, Head of Climate Change Unit, Forestry Commission, Ghana

Ø  Ellen Eyison Dzah, Programmes Manager, ABANTU

On the line

Ø  Samuel Mawutor, Civic Response/ForestWatch @14h00

AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 21 October, 2014: Review of CCDA4 and Ninth African Development Forum in Context of UN@69

Review of CCDA4 and Ninth African Development Forum in Context of UN@69

Two significant UN conferences are over.

The first, which was the Fourth edition of the Conference (CCDA-IV) was convened in Marrakesh, Morocco from 8-10 October 2014 on the theme: "Africa Can Feed Africa Now: Translating Climate Knowledge into Action". The theme selection was in recognition of 2014 as the year of agriculture. For this reason, the spotlight was on climate knowledge opportunities that can transform agricultural production systems to feed Africa sustainably.

Considered a policy-influencing space organized each year under the auspices of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme,  ClimDev-Africa is a consortium of three leading pan-African institutions i.e. the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The second, which was the Ninth African Development Forum, was held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 12 to 16 October 2014 on the theme “Innovative financing for Africa’s transformation”. The Forum offered a platform for prominent African stakeholders to share key information and participate in more focused and in-depth discussions on issues relating to innovative financing mechanisms in the following four thematic areas:

·         Domestic resource mobilization

·         Illicit financial flows

·         Private equity

·         New forms of partnership

 

The Forum further sought to enhance Africa’s capacity to explore innovative financing mechanisms as real alternatives for financing transformative development in Africa.

 

In addition, the Forum was seeking to build on best practices, innovative policies and strategies, and institutional and governance frameworks. It also aimed to be guided by evidence-based knowledge and information on the range of options and their scope for leveraging opportunities for financing Africa’s sustainable development.

 

The ADF is convened in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and other key partners with a view to establishing an African-driven development agenda that reflects consensus and leads to specific programmes for implementation.

 

These are two conferences that seem to have made little impact in countries like Ghana. Unlike in Morocco, where it made headline news, Ghana papers barely got a look-in – save for one journalist from Kumasi covering the CCDA-IV.

While we complain about yet-two more UN conferences at a time the UN is turning 69 on 24 October, have we not arrived at a point where the Global South accepts that the UN is probably still only the international Forum that continually seeks to allow the African voice to be heard? So even as there were few African lawyers; policy-makers; and African negotiators at the Fourth Conference on Climate and Development in Africa (CCDA-IV), and represented at the Ninth African Development Forum, can we surmise that the UN continues to be the sole space where a semblance of advocacy for equity around global concerns can be expressed?

In this 20^th edition of AIF, we want to look at diplomatic relations between non-Ghanaian countries and Ghana, with a special focus on Morocco, and ask whether it is still important for African countries to create synergy with North Africans. What about experiences of intra-African travel? If CCDA-IV is anything to go by, it made a nonsense of continental African solidarity on entry into African countries. Interestingly, however, it showed in unique cases that African diplomats were ready to pull the envelope to help their citizens out of trouble – something that is very refreshing. Finally, we will be speaking to two African journalists to get a sense of how they experienced the two conferences, and leave the show with a clear sense of the way forward on tackling Africa’s existential threat of climate, and better-mobilising resources for the Africa’s development.

 

Guiding Questions to be answered:

·         How difficult was it getting a visa/visa-on-arrival to Morocco from respective countries (Cameroon; Kenya; Ghana)?

·         What does the treatment by Moroccan officials at Ghana’s Embassy say about Ghana-Morocco relations; and Morocco’s relationship with other African countries?

·         Is synergy with North Africa still a good idea in Africa’s development?

·         After CCDA-IV and ADF9, is the UN still a great idea for African countries?

·         Is the so-called international development community finally getting it right on Africa’s development by involving more sectors, including private?

·         Are journalists and media practitioners better-communicating conferences, such as the CCDA-IV and 9^th African Development Forum, better than before – or is the jury still out?

·          

On the line

Ø  Ellen, ABANTU, Civil Society activist, Ghana  @13h50

Ø  Mkhu Ncube, ex-UNECA/Business leader, Zimbabwe @ 14h05

Ø  Peter da Costa,Ph.D, ex-UNECA/Former Journalist/Development Consultant, Kenya @ 14h20

Ø  Aaron Kaah, Journalist, Cameroon  @14h35

Ø  Busani Bafana, Journalist, Zimbabwe @ 14h45

Covering Climate Change for Development in Africa (CCDA-IV): INTERVIEW of Board Member Mpanu-Mpanu of African Risk Capacity

From Emmanuel K: "Dear friends, Please find embedded within the podcast of the interview Emmanuel conducted with African Risk Capacity Board Member on 7 October, 2014 here at Marrakech, Morocco. Comments appreciated!" Click here to view (Emmanuel K shared these files using Dropbox. Enjoy!) © 2014 Dropbox

The African Union as a ‘Game-changer’ in combating climate Change

Emmanuel is currently in Morocco as part of the live-reporting team of the UN Economic Commission for Africa/African Union Commission/African Development Bank-sponsored Fourth Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA), which is underway till 10 October ; and where he will also file stories for the African Development Forum from 12-16th October.

The African Union as a ‘Game-changer’ in combating climate Change

By Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr  Marakkech, Morocco

At a time when the African Union has come under considerable criticism for doing little to address pertinent development issues on the continent, along comes the African Risk Capacity to help combat climate change. If Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Board Member of the ARC Agency Governing Board, is to be believed, the ARC is a real “game-changer” in helping address climate change in Africa.

Mr.Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Board Member,
ARC Agency Governing Board

Established in 2012, the ARC is a specialized agency of the AU, established by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries, to help AU Member States improve their capacities to better plan, prepare and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

According to Mpanu-Mpanu, it functions as an insurance scheme that helps African countries pool resources together. He believes a system like this “makes perfect economic sense as countries deal with drought”. It further helps countries insure themselves against risk.

Once a request for assistance is approved by the Board, it takes around one hundred days for the money to be disbursed. This contrasts sharply with the donor agencies, which often take between four and six months. Against this backdrop is the idea that action must be taken quickly.

Pressed on why the idea of the insurance sector helping address Africa’s problems at a time one barely hears of that sector, Mpanu-Mpanu explained that one of the reasons why the ARC is a game-changer is because it is about “changing the narrative” of African countries. It is also about understanding the risk-profile associated with climate change in the sense that when disaster strikes, a country will be well-covered.

According to their website, the ARC comprises two entities: the Specialized Agency and a financial affiliate, ARC Insurance Company Limited (the Company).  The Agency provides general oversight and supervising development of ARC capacity and services. The Company is the financial affiliate that carries out commercial insurance functions of risk pooling and risk transfer in accordance with national regulations for parametric weather insurance in Bermuda, the Caribbean, where it is located until such time that an equally favourable legal and regulatory regime exists in an AU Member State.

Mpanu-Mpanu explained that had Mauritania known of ARC when it experienced its severe drought last year, it would not have spent an excess of around one million dollars to address it. He further elaborated on the dynamics of the mechanism by explaining that, given that disaster cannot hit countries all at once, when countries pay a premium, the pot will get larger than the-over $100m that donors have helped capitalize as the ARC was established.

The ARC is supported by DFID; SIDA; KFW(German Development Bank) and Rockefeller Foundation, among others.

Mpanu-Mpanu looks forward to the day when all fifty-four member countries will be covered by the ARC.

ENDs

PODCAST>> "AFRICA IN FOCUS: Deforestation, Climate Change; and Matters Arising (23 September, 2014)

From Emmanuel K: "Dear friends, Kindly find the link to the podcast of #AfricainFocus show on Tuesday 23 September, which interrogated some important questions about climate change; deforestation; and how the media can help in demystifying these issues to draw greater attention to the fact that it remains a canker that all of us must unite to combat for the betterment of our nation; region; continent. As usual, we have different segments, including our regular AU/ECOWAS five minute digest; and "Africa in the News". We also had #EbolaWatch updates from Kobby Blay, our registered nurse at Korle-Bu. We look forward to comments! Kind regards, Emmanuel"" Click here to view (Emmanuel K shared these files using Dropbox. Enjoy!) © 2014 Dropbox

Why the 20 May, 2014 Edition of "Africa in Focus" was a Non-Show

THE VICTIMIZATION OF AFRICA’S CLIMATE CHANGE

By Elizabeth Owusu-Kissi, “Africa in Focus” News Reporter

For Ghana, in Africa, we will say the rainy season is here again. As to whether Ghana is prepared for it is moot. It is unfortunate Africans are however left to the mercy of climate change if they are not adequately armed.

Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents when it comes to climate change. The situation is worsened because of the poor state of economic development and low adaptive capacity. We will have no reason to debunk what the president of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama said – that “climate change must be seen as a developmental issue and not an environmental problem because it impacts all aspect of social lives”.

The “Africa in Focus” team believes President Mahama’s idea of collaborating with various development partners, such as Japan, to integrate climate change-mitigation into various sectors of the economy in Ghana, is a good start and can be emulated by other African countries.

It is because of this weather condition in Ghana that our audience can testify that the “Africa In Focus” show, slated for live-broadcasting on May 20, 2014, fell on rocks because our media house fell victim to the weather hazard in the heavy downpour.

One way of tackling this is with preventive measures, such as investing in disaster-risk reduction in Africa. “Africa in Focus” is of the view that investment in disaster-risk reduction pays in Africa –in both short and long term impacts of managing disasters.

“Africa in Focus” show will bring to light latest updates and continuous live broadcast of the edition on “How Far Africa Is Integrating” at a later date – as well as deliberations on how feasible preventive measures of climate change in Africa can help save the continent Africa.

ENDs