The Embassy of Denmark, together with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), has formally launched a project aimed at helping Ghana achieve SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) and SDG 13 (climate action).
The project aims to build capacity and support the efforts of local actors in increasing awareness and engagement regarding climate change issues in the political debate, as well as addressing challenges within democracy, civic space, freedom of speech, and human rights.
In a statement on February 8, 2024, the Danish Embassy stated that although Ghana has traditionally had peaceful democratic elections since 1992, the country currently faces political tensions and other challenges, including climate change-induced tensions, which are insufficiently addressed.
“Ghana is a strategically important partner country in West Africa with a good track record of peaceful democratic elections. However, during the last elections in 2020, there was a buildup of some tensions that could threaten the peace and security that have characterised elections in Ghana.”
“The country is currently facing economic challenges, and in the run-up to the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, the political debate is likely to focus on the economy. The negative impacts of climate change contribute to these tensions but are seldom addressed in public debates,” the statement read in part.
A total grant funding of DKK 1,000,000, equivalent to GHC 1.8 million, will be provided by Denmark for the one-year project.
To this end, an MOU on the modalities of the use of the grant was signed between the Embassy of Denmark and WANEP, the main partner and Grants Manager, during the 4th quarter of 2023.
The project, the statement revealed, will provide small-scale grant support to national and local civil society organisations to strengthen democratic dialogue, civic space, freedom of speech, human rights, and inclusivity while promoting young people’s engagement and awareness of climate-related issues ahead of the December polls.
Commenting on the development, Ambassador of Denmark in Ghana, H. E. Tom Nørring, stated that “a healthy democracy cannot be taken for granted in any country but requires an active civil society and involvement by all segments of the population. It is important to provide relevant platforms for debate to take place to ensure engagement by all segments of the population.”
“It is the Embassy of Denmark’s objective that this project will contribute to constructive and fruitful debates on democracy and climate change in the run-up to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections later this year,” H. E. Tom Nørring added.
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