Climate experts urge behaviour change, community action as Ghana faces growing climate threats

Climate experts and academics have called for greater public awareness, behavioural change, and stronger community participation in climate decision making, warning that climate change is already having serious consequences for Ghana and demands immediate action.

The call emerged from a two-day climate workshop organised by the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Basic and Biochemical Sciences at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), in partnership with Emerging Climate Frontiers (ECF), held in Ho from June 4 to 5, 2026.

Participants examined a range of climate-related issues, including the greenhouse effect, a natural process that regulates the Earth's temperature and makes life possible. However, experts noted that human activities have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, intensifying global warming and worsening climate-related impacts.

The workshop also explored methods of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Discussions focused on natural approaches such as afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry, which participants described as practical and cost-effective solutions for Ghana.

Emerging technologies, including Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), were also discussed as potential interventions.

Leading a session on carbon removal, Dr Enoch Aninagyei, a lecturer at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, cautioned that while such technologies hold promise, they remain expensive and are surrounded by scientific uncertainties.

He noted that concerns about their long term implications and unintended consequences have led scientists to advocate a cautious approach to their deployment.

Participants also examined ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including tackling bush burning, deforestation, and unsustainable land use practices that continue to accelerate environmental degradation.

According to Dr Ernest Ofori, Co-Director of Emerging Climate Frontiers, climate change is no longer a distant concern but a reality shaped by everyday human activities.

“Everybody, whether you are doing an office job, whether you are an entrepreneur or whatever, somehow contributes to climate change,” he said.

Dr Ofori explained that while climate change itself is not new, the pace and scale of current environmental changes are unprecedented and have intensified significantly since the onset of industrialisation.

He pointed to activities such as burning plastic waste, excessive fuel consumption, methane emissions from livestock farming, and unnecessary vehicle use as major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our actions or small actions that we are doing also contribute to it. So it is very essential for everybody who is involved to also contribute their own small way to help solve the issue,” he said.

He argued that climate governance should not be confined to policymakers and scientists alone, stressing that communities directly affected by climate impacts must be involved in finding solutions.

Using the Akosombo spillage as an example, Dr Ofori noted that climate related disasters often have ripple effects beyond the immediately affected communities, disrupting livelihoods and economic activities in neighbouring areas.

He therefore advocated climate communication that is relatable and accessible to ordinary citizens, with community leaders playing a key role in educating residents and mobilising local action.

“You can't go and tell a community that depends on firewood to stop using firewood without providing an alternative,” he said. “If you are going to tell them that burning firewood will release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, you should be able to provide an alternative or help them cook.”

Touching on flooding in Accra, Dr Ofori said public behaviour remains a major factor behind the recurring problem.

“If we continue to dump into the gutters and block the waterways, we are obviously going to have this impact,” he said.

He warned that the consequences of flooding extend beyond damaged property, noting that floodwaters can spread harmful substances from waste dumps, agricultural chemicals, and even mortuaries into communities and water bodies, creating serious public health concerns.

Dr Ofori also expressed concern about the growing threat posed by microplastics, citing evidence from fish harvested in parts of the Volta Region.

According to him, plastic waste washed into rivers eventually reaches the ocean, enters the food chain, and is consumed by humans through seafood.

“So imagine going to buy Keta school boys to enjoy a good meal, and at the end of the day you are feeding on plastics. What will be the consequences of that?” he asked.

He called on the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify public education on plastic pollution, flooding, and climate related health risks.

Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at UHAS, Prof Clement Okreku Tettey, said the workshop was organised to highlight the far-reaching impacts of climate change on health, economic development, and human wellbeing.

“Today, we may not see the effects, but in the future unborn generations are going to suffer,” he said.

Prof Tettey also stressed the importance of climate justice, arguing that Africa must have a stronger voice in global climate discussions.

“Africa, we do smaller emissions compared to the industrialised nations. However, the devastating effect, the global effect, the climate change affects us most,” he said. “If bigger nations are sitting somewhere and talking about the climate they should involve Africa. They should invite us to the table.”

He revealed that UHAS is exploring opportunities to secure funding for research into the use of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetic engineering to develop plants, fungi, and other biological systems capable of naturally absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

ECF Strategic Coordination Officer Prisca Kuworde said recent engagements with young people indicate that climate change is increasingly being viewed as a present-day challenge rather than a future threat.

“The floods we see, the heat, droughts and all, they are all effects of climate change,” she said.

Ms Kuworde explained that Emerging Climate Frontiers is focused on strengthening African expertise in emerging climate intervention technologies such as Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Management.

She argued that African countries must build the scientific knowledge and policy capacity needed to evaluate risks and participate meaningfully in international climate negotiations.

“If we are not in the room, the room will move on without us,” she said.

The workshop concluded with a unified call for urgent action, with participants stressing that climate change is already altering rainfall patterns, increasing heat stress, and worsening flooding across Ghana. They emphasised that addressing these challenges will require coordinated government policies, community engagement, and meaningful changes in public behaviour.

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