Female Entrepreneurs Sound Alarm on Climate and Business Decline

Kumasi: Female owners of small and medium-sized enterprises have urged citizens to change their mindset and approach to climate change to minimize its impact on their businesses. Mrs. Paulina Addo, a bakery and drinks shop operator in Kumasi, lamented how unpredictable rainfall patterns affect her business. "When it's a season for heavy rainfall, I start panicking because I think of how to pay my children's school fees and my workers. People barely come to buy pastries and drinks," she explained.According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Addo highlighted that many business owners operate on loans and struggle to make repayments due to reduced sales during extreme weather conditions. She expressed her concerns over the financial pressure caused by these unpredictable weather patterns and the challenges of meeting loan repayments.The United Nations reports that climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. These activities have led to various environmental effects, including flooding, wildfires, and desertification.In Yamfo, Mrs. Habibatu Amadi, a mushroom farmer, shared her experiences of how climate change impacts her business. The dry season poses significant challenges, leading to financial strain due to increased efforts and costs to maintain her crops. She emphasized the importance of mitigating climate change by reducing fossil fuel use and promoting recycling practices.Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, founder of Agrihouse Foundation, addressed additional challenges faced by traditional smallholder farmers, including the lack of irrigation facilities and the impact of illegal mining on the environment. She urged citizens to adopt sustainable practices to combat climate change, protect the environment, and ensure economic stability.