Ghana’s first ever pavilion and delegation office at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP), are attracting global attention at the ongoing COP 26 here in Glasgow.
The colourful pavilion decorated with kente-themed wallpaper exhibiting cocoa and forestry has been set up, to showcase the various interventions the country has put in place to combat climate change over the years while the office would host bilateral meetings.
At the last count on Tuesday, two days after the opening of the pavilion, more than 500 visitors from across the globe had been officially recorded while more than 200 people stop by the spot each day.
For all the past editions of COP, the country’s delegation would occupy spaces provided for the Economic Community of West African States and Africa or use non-governmental organisations for various engagements and bilateral meetings.
The technical lead of the Ghanaian delegation, DrAntwiboasiakoAmoah told the Ghanaian Times on Wednesday that that the country was unable to get a pavilion in the past because of lack of funds for the office space and pavilion which cost about 100,000 pounds.
This year, he said the planning committee received financial and technical support for the facilities from institutions and development partners including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Ministry of Environment Science and Technology ; Forestry Commission; British High Commission, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Energy Commission.
He said that some of the interventions and policies being showcased were undertaken by institutions like EPA, Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority, Ministry of Finance, Forestry Commission, Energy Commission and private organisations like Zoomlion and Arocha Ghana.
Dr Amoah said while majority of visitors had been interested in energy issues particularly renewable energy, others had been inquiring about agriculture, forestry, climate finance and climate change adaptation.
“The past few days have been about the world leader’s summit. We will start holding events to showcase our interventions today and that will attract more people,” said KwadwoBrentuoOwusu, a member of the Ghana Pavilion Planning Committee.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday visited the pavilion to interact with the Ghanaian delegation after delivering the country’s statement at the World Leader’s summit held alongside COP26.
He was received by the Executive Director of the EPA, Dr Henry Kokofu and other members of the Ghanaian delegation while he was presented the climate clock which highlights the dwindling amount of time left to cut global emissions in order to prevent average temperatures reaching 1.5C.
COP 26 has brought together 30,000 delegates from across the globe to discuss climate actions on the theme ‘Keeping 1.5 alive; ensuring it is still possible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.”
FROM JONATHAN DONKOR, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
