The Twin-Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP) being implemented by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan
Assembly (STMA) and its partners has launched a Climate Resilience Schools’ Educational Campaign programme at the
Mampong STMA Basic School as part of activities under the Urban Climate Change Resilience cluster of the project.
The campaign aims to educate school children and use them as ‘change agent’ on the causes and dangers of climate
change to our planet and the measures to protect the environment. The campaign is being implemented in collaboration
with the Metro Education Directorate, NADMO and the Environmental Health outfit of the Assembly. The project, funded by
the European Union (EU) is grouped under three clusters; Multi-Level Urban Governance, Cultural-Sensitive and Inclusive
Urban Strategies and the Climate and Urban Climate Resilience.
Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Hon. Abdul Mumin Issah expressed worry over the various human activities which have served as the main drivers of climate change. He said, the burning of fossil fuel, some agricultural malpractices, deforestation and environmental pollution forms part of the major contributors of the global warming we are all experiencing today. He added that the illegal artisanal mining in Ghana termed as ‘Galamsey’ has negatively impacted the environment resulting in land degradation and water pollution. “Several studies carried out to examine the water quality of rivers and extent of land degradation in the eight endemic regions of illegal mining called for an urgent attention to halt the galamsey activities in Ghana”, he added.
Hon. Issah also noted that because the earth is a connected system, warmer temperatures influence all other areas causing change in weather patterns, loss of crops, draughts, water scarcity, severe fires among others. He therefore entreated the public to join hands and pay the bill now, by preventing the bad and illegal human activities or risk paying dearly in the future. The Metro Director of Education, Mrs. Sally Nelly Coleman in her speech emphasized on the rapid happenings in the current trend of the earths’ climate. She said that more greenhouse gasses are being released into the atmosphere now than ever which in turn results in the continuous increase in the earth’s average temperature with devastating results on our lives and the planet. “Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time which is already having visible effects in the world”, she noted.
Mrs. Coleman advised that everybody to help protect the planet by educating ourselves and others about the dangers of climate change and ways to act against it.
“We can help spread the message by word of mouth or utilize the various social media platforms available to us”.
She further applauded schools that have engaged in the planting of trees as a preventive measure to control climate change.
She therefore implored all schools to take up the fruit tree planting exercise being undertaken by the TSCPP seriously. This she said, will fulfil the educational
program of cultivating the habit of eating fruits daily by every child, hence improving the health status of the learner and the economic standard of the parents.
She also entreated head teachers of schools which are already on the fruit trees planting exercise to take personal interest in ensuring that the plants are well
cared for so as to ensure its maturity to achieve its purpose for the betterment of all.
The programme was spiced with some poetry recitals and cultural performances on climate change by the pupils.