Former Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has called for global accountability and urgent climate justice, especially for the most vulnerable populations—women and children.
Speaking at the opening day of the Climate Justice Conference organized by Eco-Africa Network at GIMPA, Mrs. Bawumia underscored that climate change is no longer just an environmental issue.
“It’s a human issue. It’s a social issue. And fundamentally, it’s a justice issue,” she said, stressing that those who contribute the least to global emissions suffer the most from its devastating effects.
Quoting data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, she noted that over 3.6 billion people live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change.
Despite this, she pointed out, “The poorest half of the world’s population contributes only 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while the richest 10% contribute nearly 48%.”
Africa, with 70% of the global population, accounts for only 4% of global carbon emissions. Yet, it is the continent experiencing some of the harshest consequences, including drought, food insecurity, and displacement.
She highlighted the case of East Africa, where more than 34 million people faced hunger last year, largely due to climate-driven droughts.
Emphasising the disproportionate impact on women and children, she pointed out that in many rural communities, women walk long distances—averaging six kilometers daily—to fetch water and spend up to 20 hours a week collecting firewood.
This, according to her significantly limits their opportunities for education, economic empowerment, and rest.
She also referenced global figures showing that around 3 billion people still depend on solid fuels for cooking, leading to household air pollution responsible for 3.2 million deaths each year, with women and children making up the majority of those affected.
As a Global Champion for the Clean Cooking Alliance, Mrs. Bawumia advocated for access to clean energy as a development and gender equality issue.
She lamented that in 2023, although $1.7 trillion was invested in clean energy globally, less than 1% went to women-led organizations and under 2% was directed to projects that explicitly address gender equality.
She urged local actors to explore innovative green financing and to equip the next generation with climate-relevant skills. “By 2030, Africa is expected to have 400 million young people entering the workforce. Without climate-relevant skills, this demographic dividend could become a demographic disaster.”
In his opening address, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Dean of the GIMPA Law School, underscored the severe and growing threat climate change poses to Ghana’s environment, economy, and social fabric.
“Climate change is not just a future hypothetical anymore—it’s our present reality,” Dr. Agyeman-Budu said.
“In Ghana, we already experience the impact, from rising temperatures and erratic rainfall to devastating floods and droughts,” he added
He warned that the economic toll of climate change could slash Ghana’s GDP by up to 10% by 2050, and highlighted the vulnerability of women, children, and the poor—groups often left out of climate policy considerations.
The Dean emphasized the role of legal education and institutions in the fight for climate justice. He further announced a bold new initiative by GIMPA Law School to embed climate law into its academic curriculum.
“We plan to introduce new courses on climate law and policy at both the LLB and LLM levels. We are also establishing a Research Centre on Climate Law and Policy, with support from the Ministry of Climate Change.”
This centre, he noted, would conduct cutting-edge research, offer technical support to policymakers and judges, and collaborate with global institutions to advance climate justice.
Cedric Dzelu, Technical Director at the Office of the Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, emphasized the importance of grounding climate change and sustainability decisions in data.
He affirmed the Ministry’s and the government’s readiness to collaborate with researchers, academia, and civil society organizations leading climate change initiatives, and to provide funding for individuals conducting research in this area.
Worship Joshua Frimpong, Executive Director of Eco-Africa Network outlined the youth-led organization’s mission to democratize climate knowledge and drive community-level action.
He noted that Eco-Africa Network is currently working on a climate tech solution that translates climate information into local languages to make it accessible to everyone.
“Adaptation begins with understanding—and people must grasp the crisis in their own context,” he observed.
Worship stressed that climate justice is not just a scientific issue but a moral and human rights imperative. He pointed to the destruction caused by illegal mining (galamsey), which threatens food security and contaminates water bodies, and called for accountability through stronger legal frameworks.
“People should not, in the comfort of their homes, suffer from food insecurity and water poisoning because of the reckless pursuit of wealth by others,” he said. “Such individuals must be held accountable—and that’s why this conversation around climate justice is so important.”
