President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on world leaders to intensify efforts to combat climate change and its devastating impacts on countries, particularly in Africa.
Addressing the UN General Assembly for the last time as President of Ghana, he emphasized that Africa, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, bears the brunt of climate-related disasters such as floods and desertification.
“At the heart of today’s crisis is the climate emergency which threatens humanity’s very existence. Africa, while contributing the least to global emissions, bears the heaviest burden. From floods to desertification, we are already experiencing its devastating effects. Despite the promises, the vulnerable remain abandoned.
He further questioned the feasibility of resilience and adaptation strategies in the face of famine and unpredictable weather patterns.
“We are told to adapt and be resilient but how does one adapt to famine or build resilience when farmers cannot predict the seasons? Africa cannot continue to pay for a crisis she did not create. We demand fairness, not charity. Climate justice requires a system that works for everyone, not the privileged few.
“As president, the vast gap between the rich and poor should be sustained act on our conscience. Over 700 million people representing 8.57% of the world’s population still live in extreme poverty,” he stated.
