Ignatius Baffour Awuah
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, says climate change can have “sequential effects on the works that are being delivered on the job market.”
He said climate change issues should be addressed holistically since it could lead to loss of jobs.
The minister—speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Ghana Industry Safety Conference (GHISCON) organized by the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI)—pointed out that there is the need for companies to think ahead and devise innovative and technological ways of doing things. He also called for strict adherence to safety issues which should be extended to the communities.
Kwasi Twum Addo—Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) at the Ministry of Energy—said the ministry was implementing a Climate Change Smart Energy Action Plan (CC-SEAP).
The plan sought to integrate energy sector issues in the protocols into the country’s energy sector activities.
The action plan, he noted, is also aimed at minimizing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector activities through the introduction of cleaner fuels and reducing end use consumption.
“Again, it is to enhance the resilience of the energy sector to climate change by supporting a regime that ensures compliance of energy services providers to international climate change protocols,” he added.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, commended STCCI for all its activities geared towards the growth of businesses in diverse ways.
Mr. Ato Van-Ess, Chairman of STCCI, said a number of activities undertaken by industry and the citizenry had significant negative impact on the welfare of workers and the environment.
The two-day conference was on the theme: “Climate change and occupational health and safety”.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi