The Canadian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Honourable Steven Guilbeault, together with a delegation from the Canadian High Commission, led by H. E Kati-Csaba, Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, has paid a visit to the University of Ghana. The meeting, which was co-hosted by the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, had the agenda for the Minister to interact with UG faculty researching on environment, climate change and biodiversity. This was part of the Minister’s consultations with key stakeholders in Ghana to inform his engagement with the Group of Seven (G7) and the implementation of Canada’s international climate commitments. 

In brief remarks, the Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, warmly welcomed the Minister and the delegation. He was hopeful that the programme will yield a successful briefing and outcome. 

Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori

The Canadian Minister, Honourable Steven Guilbeault, in momentary response, disclosed that Canada and Ghana have been in a long collaboration, and was confident that the relationship will last. He added that the issue of climate change is a headache for both developing and developed countries and cuts across many aspects such as technology, finance and many others. The Minister confirmed the Canadian government’s commitment to continue to fund climate change research.

Canadian Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Honourable Steven Guilbeault

He revealed that Ghana and Canada co-chaired a working group at the last United Nations Environmental General Assembly and the negotiations led to what will become the first international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. 

Brief presentations were made by Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Research; Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, Director, Institute for Environment and Sanitation (IESS); Prof. Erasmus Owusu, Director, Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies; Prof. Kwadwo Owusu, Head, Department of Geography and Resource Development and Prof. Sam Cudjoe, Former Director, Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) on their respective units and upcoming projects.

                                                  Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu making a presentation at the meeting

During the meeting, three brief project demonstrations led by Mr. Michele Leone of the International Development Research Center (IDRC) were presented. On the Project demonstrations, Dr. Dilys Sefakor MacCarthy, a Senior Research Fellow from the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre made a presentation on Agricultural Models Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP)

Also, Mrs. Ekua Odoom, Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) presented on Digital Tools for Agriculture and Livelihoods. Finally, Mr. Philip-Neri Jayson-Quashigah, Deltas, Vulnerability & Climate Change: Migration & Adaptation (DECCMA) delivered a seminar on Monitoring Coastal Erosion and Flooding in the Volta Delta Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

There was an interactive question and answer session between the Minister and Faculty.

Present at the event were staff and faculty of the various units of UG engaged in climate change research.

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