ActionAid Ghana, an international NGO, in collaboration with its youth movements, has held a climate advocacy campaign dubbed: “Climate Justice Now” on the theme: “Pedal for Safer Planet: Cycling for a Just Transition.”
The campaign brought together members of Activista Ghana, Young Urban Women’s Movement, Young Females Platform, and smallholder women farmers to cycle and walk through the principal streets of Tamale amidst brass band music led by Don Sigli, a musician, who used his influence to champion climate justice messages.
It started from the Jubilee Park through the Central Market area and ended at the Nyohini Dam.
It sought to amplify voices calling for greater investment in green transition efforts as Ghana and the global community attends COP 30 in Belem, Brazil this November.
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, speaking during the event, highlighted the organization’s commitment to addressing climate vulnerabilities that disproportionately affected women and marginalized communities.
Mr Nkaw said “For ActionAid, being a gender-focused organization, we prioritize working with women groups to demand their rights. As we prepare towards COP 30 and ride on the optimism of the Global Action Week on Climate Change, it becomes increasingly imperative that we collaborate with government officials, youth, and women groups to speak on issues affecting them such as drying water bodies and the depletion of biodiversity.”
He urged government and global entities to increase investment in renewable energy technologies to promote a just transition that safeguarded both people and the planet.
Mrs Beatrice Biije, Programmes Manager, ActionAid Ghana’s Northern Regional Office, in an interview with the media, underscored the organization’s efforts to empower women financially through all-year-round agricultural support by funding irrigation initiatives rather than limiting assistance to seasonal farming.
Ms Sumaya Sulemana, a representative of YUWM, emphasized how climate change increased gender inequalities especially in land ownership and access.
She said, “We are calling on all stakeholders to give us opportunities that will empower women when it comes to land issues.”
Mr Abdul Latif Issahaku, Coordinator, Activista Ghana, Northern Region, highlighted youth unemployment and its social consequences, and called on the government to invest highly in green jobs “because if you look at the impact of climate change, it affects the livelihoods of families and young people.”
Mrs Bintu Abubakar, President, Smallholder Women Farmers, Northern Region, commended ActionAid Ghana for its continuous support to women in agriculture.
She appealed for more interventions in land acquisition, access to loans and grants, and irrigation facilities to promote all-year farming and animal rearing.
The event also featured advocacy pitches from the youth movements and a presentation of a petition to President John Dramani Mahama through the Northern Regional Minister at his residence.
The Pedal for Safe Planet campaign formed part of ActionAid Ghana’s broader efforts to promote climate justice as an essential step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals while empowering women and youth to lead the call for a greener, fairer, and safer planet.
