The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, representing Ghana’s Forestry Commission, has signed a Letter of Intent with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government for a $30 million grant to support forest fringe communities. This initiative aims to provide alternative livelihoods and incentivize enhanced forest protection, restoration, and reforestation efforts.
The funding is part of Ghana’s commitment to achieving biodiversity and climate objectives under the Resilient Ghana Package, launched at COP28 in Dubai last year. This initiative builds on Ghana’s previous efforts, including the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) launched at COP27 in Egypt, which focuses on reducing forest loss and promoting sustainable development.
At COP28, Ghana introduced the Resilient Ghana Package, a comprehensive approach to halt and reverse deforestation. The package focuses on three key areas: nature-based industrialization, green jobs, and scaling climate ambition. Several countries, including the UAE, pledged their support to this initiative, with the UAE committing $30 million to help Ghana achieve its goals by 2030.
On September 27, 2024, during the United Nations Climate Week in New York, Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, and the UAE’s Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, signed the agreement. This funding will support a range of programs aimed at reversing deforestation and promoting sustainable development in specific regions of Ghana.
Speaking after the signing, Minister Jinapor reiterated Ghana’s commitment to restoring habitats, protecting endangered species, and fostering resilient ecosystems. He expressed gratitude to the UAE and other stakeholders involved in the partnership, emphasizing Ghana’s determination to meet the objectives of the Resilient Ghana Package.
Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi commended Ghana for its leadership in forest and climate initiatives, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to global biodiversity and climate goals. She emphasized that the partnership with Ghana will not only support afforestation but also create positive impacts on local communities by strengthening livelihoods and fostering greater community engagement.
Ghana has made significant strides in addressing deforestation, reducing the deforestation rate by 48% in high forest zones since 2017. However, challenges remain, driven by agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and small-scale mining. The country aims to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030 in line with global commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use.
