Dr. Yemi Akinbabamijo, Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), paid a courtesy call on Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister in Charge of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), yesterday, April 12, 2022.
The meeting’s purpose was to provide the honorable Minister with an update on FARA’s preparations for COP27.
The 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 will take place from November 7–18, 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where FARA is expected to lead the African Climate-Smart Agriculture Framework (ACSAF) implementation of the purpose-driven process that will deliver a consolidated plan to mitigate the climate crisis and the operationalization of the 10-year framework to guide the ACSA for the next decade (the African Decadal Plan) that will position Africa for a meaningful climate-resilient Africa. In principle, it will operationalize the global demands of the AUCCS 2030.
From Left-right, Mr. Peter Dery (Director for Environment, MESTI ) Mr. Johnson Okpong (Finance Director, FARA) Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie (MP), Minister for MESTI, Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo (ED, FARA) Mr. Kwamena Quaison (Director for Science, Technology & Innovation(ST&I))
In addition, the two talked about educational and agricultural research and innovation collaborations.
Dr Yemi Akinbamijo reiterated the need for Ghana to leverage the Agricultural Research for Innovation Fellowship in Africa (ARIFA) initiative, whose target is to produce at least 5,000 new generations of the fit-for-purpose workforce to re-engineer the African agri-food sector. This could provide the change factor for rapid agricultural transformation and achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Program (CAADP)-Malabo of the AU.
Dr Afriyie was pleased to host FARA and asserts that his ministry is well-positioned to leverage science and technology. He stressed how his sector is employing nature-based solutions to address climate change and its associated challenges and that strong collaborations with other local and international institutions, particularly with FARA, are critical for promoting a sustainable environment.
He stated that African leaders must begin utilizing international accords to boost their countries’ growth.
One Comment
FARA needs to be conversant with resolutions of COP26 held last year, to be able to make good representation. We must protect Africans farmers interest and FARA needs to go with environmental management experts who understand the contemporary environmental issues plaguing the world.