Munich, Germany – President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the need for leaders not to overlook the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on Africa.
According to President Mahama, many of the challenges affecting livelihoods in the Sahel region can be attributed to climate change.
Speaking at the Opening Townhall Meeting of the Munich Security Conference, President Mahama raised concerns about climate change and its devastating effects on the African continent.
“We shouldn’t forget the issue of climate change. A lot of what is happening in the Sahel that is affecting people’s livelihoods is climate change,” he stated.
He highlighted the paradox that Africa, despite contributing the least to global emissions, is bearing the brunt of climate change’s adverse effects.
“Unfortunately, Africa is facing the most adverse impact of it, even though it contributed the least to it, and so the Lake Chad has shrunk to 20 times smaller than it used to be,” he said.
Using Lake Chad as an example, President Mahama explained how the drastic reduction of the lake has displaced countless families who once depended on it for their survival.
“All the families that depended on the Lake Chad for their livelihoods have become displaced, and they’re migrating southwards into the coastal countries. That is leading to clashes between herders and agriculturists,” he noted.
He further stressed that the situation is more complex than just trade and financial investments, underscoring the importance of building resilience with the support of the private sector.
“It’s a more complex situation than just being able to trade, and where capital comes from. But I believe that we must build resilience, and that’s where the private sector comes in,” he emphasized.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 
