Ghana: Unionists stay informed on the latest on climate issues and just transition deliberations

Thirty five (35) trade union activists, including women and youth from BWI and IndustriAll global union affiliates in Ghana, convened in Accra for a seminar on climate change and just transition. This initiative, part of BWI's global campaign "Heat Up Workers' Rights, Not the Planet!" happened in anticipation of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations Global Climate Conference (UNFCCC) in Dubai which opened on 30 November. The seminar provided union members with a comprehensive understanding of climate change's impact on jobs, wages, and workplace health and safety in industries, such as wood and forestry, energy, water, petroleum, and transport.

Dr. Riverson Oppong, a senior staff member at the Ghana Gas Company and a climate change researcher, delivered a lecture, emphasising the significance of climate change and just transition in Ghana, offering insights toward 2050. Participants, including Eric Boateng, representative of the Secretary-General of TUC Ghana, and who oversees the Climate Change Department, gained valuable insights from the lecture. In conclusion, Ole-Kristian Paulsen, the International Adviser of IndustriEnergi Norway, stressed the importance of enhancing trade union members' capacity to contribute effectively to national discussions and propose mitigation actions.

Supervised by Garikanai Shoko, BWI Assistant Regional Representative, and Tendai Makanza, Regional Programme Officer of IndustriAll for Sub-Saharan countries, the seminar's second part focused on trade unions proposing concrete measures for a just transition to a more sustainable future. These action plans, ensuring that no worker or individual is left behind, will be submitted for adoption and implementation by participants within their respective unions in the short and medium terms.