Ghana’s position as FCLP will address environmental challenges- Group

Management Board Members of the Hotspot Intervention Area (HIA), an environmental group, say Ghana's position as Co-Chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership (FCLP) will address environmental challenges such as illegal mining (galamsey).The group said its attention had been drawn to a recent publication sponsored by AROCHA Ghana that demanded the removal of Ghana as Co-Chair of FCLP, citing the widespread devastation caused by illegal mining activities as the reason.The group represented local communities, women, youth, marginalised, and vulnerable groups, covering five regions in Ghana: the Western North, Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, and Eastern regions.In a statement from the group copied to the Ghana News Agency, isaid the AROCHA publication did not represent the interests of local communities in the regions, which were part of the Ghana REDD+ programme.The group comprised of leadership from Juaboso bia , Atewa, Ahafo Ano South, Kakum, Sefwi-Wiawso, Asunafo Asutifi.The statement said Ghan a had been a major pillar and a global leader in the global efforts of reducing atmospheric emissions, as evidenced by the emission reductions of 972,465 tonnes of CO2 in 2019 and 3,379,161 tonnes of CO2 in 2020/2021.It stressed that 69 per cent of these benefits come to support local communities in various ways.'We do not think that removing Ghana from the FCLP will address the challenge of illegal mining.'Even though we agree with AROCHA Ghana that something needs to be done urgently about the 'galamsey' menace, it does not mean sponsoring the efforts of depriving Ghana and its people, particularly local communities, the golden opportunity to harness climate investments through such a high-level political platform,' it said.The statement said the group planned to pursue community-driven actions to create the needed momentum and support in addressing the 'galamsey' menace.'We intend to work with all stakeholders to fashion out pragmatic ways of addressing the galamsey menace,' it said.The Board o f HIA is the apex decision-making body of the governance structures developed under the premier emission reductions programme dubbed the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme.Source: Ghana News Agency