Friends of the Nation (FoN), a socio-environmental advocacy NGO, organized a stakeholder dialogue in the Shama District of the Western Region to address climate change issues. The dialogue, part of FoN's ‘Climate Media Collaborative for Economic Justice and Community Rights' Project supported by Oxfam and Ford Foundation, focused on sand mining and quarrying, which exacerbate climate change in the area.
Representatives from various groups including youth, farmers, traditional leaders, institutions, and the media attended the dialogue. Participants discussed the impact of climate change, recommended action plans, and emphasized the importance of enforcing environmental protection laws.
Mr. William Augustine Dankyi, a Project Officer at FoN, highlighted the need for stakeholders' input to facilitate national discussions on human activities contributing to climate change, particularly sand mining and quarrying in urban areas like Shama District. He emphasized individual responsibilities in mitigating climate change's devastating impact.
Mr Anthony Quaicoe, Development Planning Officer at the Shama District Assembly, acknowledged the negative impact of sand winning and quarrying on farming activities and livelihoods. The Assembly has implemented strict mechanisms to regulate these activities to minimize their contribution to climate change.
Mr. Kwadwo Opoku-Mensah, Deputy Director of the Western Regional Office of the Environmental Protection Agency, mentioned the development of a National Climate Change Policy and Adaptation Plan to mitigate climate change's effects on livelihoods in Ghana.
The dialogue concluded with a commitment to collective action in addressing climate change and implementing strategies to enhance climate resilience in the Shama District.