Chibeze Ezekiel

And I must say that I was very surprised when the government of Ghana chose to back down on the construction of the coal plants, having heard our concerns and the voices of the local communities.

Indeed, the then Minister of Environment at a press conference announced that Ghana is not going to build a coal plant having signed the Paris Climate Agreement.

In 2019, government released our Renewable Energy Master Plan, which shows a very comprehensive plan on the development of renewable energy in Ghana.

Among others, the plan seeks to increase by 30 times our renewable energy development by 2030

and also create more than 200,000 jobs by 2030.

Some countries have shut down or are planning to shut down their coal plants.

Others, too, are frantically planning to build coal plants.

Once a coal plant is built, it becomes part of the energy system for decades.

But our experience shows that resistance is possible.

How?

By bringing into the conversation

the adverse impacts and externalities of coal plants.

Secondly, also by providing clean alternatives.

And more importantly, by involving the local communities, because they are the first to be impacted, and they must also have a say in the conversation.

In the last decade, technology has moved at a fast pace.

It has lowered its costs dramatically.

Africa can and must develop with all the energy it requires without incurring the disastrous impact of cold, i.e.

health and environmental consequences.

Development in clean, breathable air must not be mutually exclusive.

Thank you.