Charles Teye Amoatey, Director of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Training and Consulting, has revealed that the World Bank has praised Ghana for integrating environmental risk management into its World Bank-funded projects.
Speaking at the opening of the fourth session of a six-day training program on the Essentials of Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) in Accra, Prof. Amoatey emphasized the positive remarks made by the World Bank regarding Ghana's progress in environmental and social risk management. He highlighted that Ghana has been allowed by the World Bank to utilize its own system to manage environmental and social risks in World Bank-funded projects, underscoring the country's maturity in this aspect due to the impact of the environmental and social risk program.
The training program, organized by GIMPA in collaboration with the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and funded by the World Bank Group, brought together 35 participants from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as local government and public service bodies from across Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. The objective of the program is to equip participants with the necessary skills to manage ESRM associated with projects implemented on the continent for sustainable development.
Prof. Amoatey stressed the importance of prioritizing environmental and social risk management in every project from the inception stage to ensure proper management of all environmental risk issues. He noted that the World Bank now requires an environmental and social risk management report to accompany feasibility studies for project approval.
He called for government support to implement these initiatives, urging against political interference in project implementation. Prof. Helen Essandoh, Director of the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre, KNUST, emphasized the importance of sustainable development, which relies on economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
Representing the World Bank, Mr. Jonathan Zinzi Aryitey highlighted the necessity of the program due to gaps in human resources in the management of environmental and social risk. He emphasized that environmental and social risk management should be prioritized in development projects to improve living conditions and eradicate poverty.