By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Aug 28, GNA – A coalition of youth groups in the Northern Region, has petitioned the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) to take urgent steps to strengthen climate policy implementation to safeguard livelihoods, ecosystems, and the future of young people in the area.
The petition, jointly signed by Activista Ghana, She Leads Social Movement, Plan International Ghana, ActionAid Ghana, Songtaba, and several other youth networks and institutions, was presented as part of activities marking the 2025 International Youth Day and Climate Justice Campaign in Tamale.
Prior to presenting the petition, the participants marched through some principal streets of Tamale in branded T-shirts and carried placards with inscriptions such as “Protect the Earth, Secure the Future,” “Act Now for a Greener Tomorrow,” and “We have Nowhere to Go, Ghana is all we Have,” to rally public support for climate justice.
Reading the petition, Miss Osman Muslimah Maligu, a member of the “She Leads Social Movement”, a youth wing of Plan International Ghana, said the Northern Region remained one of the most climate-vulnerable areas in the country.
The petition, cited rapid deforestation, soil degradation, drought, and erratic rainfall as challenges that had already led to reduced agricultural productivity, drying water bodies, and frequent pest and disease outbreaks.
It observed that while Ghana had adopted key policies such as the National Climate Change Policy (2013), the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and the National Adaptation Plan (2018), implementation at the regional and district levels had been slow, exposing communities to severe climate risks.
It warned: “Without urgent and decentralized action, our region risks losing its ecological balance, its economic base, and the future of its young people.”
The petition urged the NRCC to ensure that the National Climate Change Policy and Adaptation Plan were fully integrated into Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies’ (MMDAs) development plans, with dedicated budget lines for climate action. It further called for the establishment of a regional monitoring mechanism to hold duty bearers accountable.
It also demanded that women, youth, and marginalized groups be placed at the centre of resilience strategies through livelihood empowerment schemes, access to climate-resilient seeds, and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
On climate education, the petition called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to increase climate-related content in basic and senior high school curricula.
It further urged the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Parliament of Ghana to initiate negotiations for debt cancellation from Global North countries with high carbon footprints as part of climate justice financing for Ghana’s adaptation efforts.
The petitioners appealed to the NRCC to intensify the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) and indiscriminate sand winning, which they said continued to pollute major water bodies such as the White Volta, Black Volta, and Oti River.
They also called for investments in renewable energy technologies, particularly solar mini-grids for off-grid communities, irrigation systems, and sustainable land management practices to support smallholder farmers, especially women.
On climate awareness, the petition encouraged closer partnerships between civil society, traditional authorities, schools, and religious leaders to intensify public education using local languages and community information centres to make climate communication more accessible.
It emphasized that the Northern region was on the frontline of climate change in Ghana, citing floods along the White Volta, prolonged droughts in Savelugu, Karaga, and Zabzugu, and land degradation in Yendi and Bimbilla as evidence of the climate crisis.
The petition urged the NRCC to accelerate climate policy implementation, intensify environmental protection measures, champion inclusive climate governance, and work with communities and youth to secure a just and sustainable future.
“By acting decisively, the NRCC will not only protect the environment but also secure the livelihoods, dignity, and future of the people of Northern Ghana. Climate justice is not an option, it is a necessity for survival and sustainable development,” it stated.
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, who received the petition on behalf of the NRCC, commended the youth for demonstrating keen interest in the environmental sustainability of the country.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and supporting inclusive governance and development.
He, however, expressed concern about the increasing cases of drug abuse in the region, especially among young people, and urged them to eschew such practices to become responsible citizens.
Mr John assured the petitioners that the NRCC would give the concerns raised the needed attention.
The petition was endorsed by over 20 organizations, including the Northern Regional Youth Parliament, Ghana Red Cross Society, Forestry Commission, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Education Service, National Youth Authority, traditional authorities, Equitas Africa, media and others.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah