Support drive for climate-smart technologies – Okyeame Kwame

Highlife artiste, Okyeame Kwame, who is a climate change ambassador, has called on government and individuals to support projects that seek to help preserve the environment.

The award-winning musician made the call at the Africa Climate Change Week which took place at the Accra International Conference Centre recently.

In his speech, Okyeame Kwame noted, “I am doing my part through music, social media and advocacy to help build capacity and raise awareness. I invite you to throw your weight behind a greater drive to administer climate-smart technologies to people in the rural landscape.”

He also detailed feedback from his visit to 52 communities in the Brong Ahafo and Western regions as a climate change ambassador, indicating that the people were really excited and willing to participate in climate-response interventions.

However, he said the investment under the Ghana DGM Project covered only 52 communities and would want other eligible communities beyond the Brong Ahafo and Western regions to experience the benefits of DGM.

“They asked me to ask you humbly if it is possible to increase the investment in capacity building so that more communities can switch to sustainable practices,” he stated.

The Made In Ghana hitmaker added that his support to these communities had conscientised the people about the need to protect their environment rather than migrate to urban areas in search of other sources of livelihood.

“The youth say with the knowledge gained from the climate change capacity building, they wish to stay and return to sustainable farming. However they plead that the farm destructive activities of nomadic herdsmen and bushfires that happen in their communities be checked and regulated carefully,” he added.

Okyeame Kwame, born Kwame Nsiah-Apau, was appointed a climate change ambassador on the Ghana Dedicated Grant Mechanism (DGM) project by Solidaridad West Africa on January 24, 2018.

Since becoming the ambassador, he has helped to drum home the impact of climate change by visiting rural communities, using his craft to create awareness and advocate for climate-smart practices.

Africa Climate Week 2019, brought together leading sustainability innovators from the public and private sectors for an energetic and honest dialogue about African climate concerns and the next steps in combating them.

The event was focused on bridging the divide between parties to the UN’s push for climate action and non-party entities looking to make a difference at national and communal levels in their own ways.

source grapic.com.gh