Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh
Nsawam/Adoagyiri

Mr Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I make this Statement to highlight the good work of our brother and colleague, Dr Emmanuel Marfo, the former Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, and to celebrate another feat of our nation Ghana in the passionate endeavour to shine the black star of Africa to the rest of the world. Mr Speaker, as part of the global action to address climate change, the energy transition, and climate financing, a great deal of work has been made by our national and international actors of which Dr Marfo is ably represented. Mr Speaker, Ghana’s Parliament has indeed been a model, on the subject matter, holding several successful engagements to shore up inclusivity on climate issues and to institutionalise theobjectives of our nation in addressing this endangering phenomenon.

Mr Speaker, in July last year, under the leadership of the Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and the facilitation by Dr Emmanuel Marfo, the Ghana Parliamentary Climate, and Disability Caucuses were both launched to promote sustainable development practices that prioritise environmental conservation, through the advocacy of progressive environmental and social policies. Mr Speaker, today, I am proud that Dr Emmanuel Marfo has been appointed by the Climate Parliament as its new Director for West and Central Africa regions, having come a long way through academic and professional careers in the field of environmental science, policy and legislation.

The Climate Parliament which is headquartered in London is a global network of legislators working to inform and mobilise Members of various Parliaments and Congresses to take action on the climate emergency. The Climate Parliament, having recognised the commitment of the Members of Parliament of Ghana, has engaged with both sides of the House and found it appropriate to elevate one of our own to direct the affairs of the African subregions to continue to marshal all the support needed to address this climate emergency. Mr Speaker, before his appointment, Dr Marfo was a Principal Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); he then became the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom Constituency for two terms and voluntarily retired.

Dr Marfo was the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology in the Eighth Parliament and the global chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Climate Vulnerable Forum from 2022 to 2024. Still in Parliament, Dr Marfo served on the Committees on Gender, Children and Social Welfare; Lands and Natural Resources; Constitutional and Legal Affairs; Roads and Transport; and Works and Housing at various times. He was also the Vice Chair of the Disability Caucus and Chair of the Climate Change Caucus.

Mr Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity, even now, at the commencement of the Ninth Parliament to sound the call the House has consistently made on the matter of climate action: may it not be lost on us as a Parliament, as a nation and indeed the global community, that every day that goes by where we do not act, we do not only stare in the face of a grave and enduring destruction of livelihood, for the near generations after us, but we do so with our hands at our backs.

Mr Speaker, the risk of loss of biodiversity, crop losses, displacement of communities due to the rising sea levels, and the rampant floods are but a few challenges that will overtake us if we do not soldier on in our quest. I am encouraged by such feats in the global landscape that give Ghanaians the opportunity to join the fore actors in impacting our communities with sustainable solutions to challenges such as this.

Mr Speaker, to conclude, to Dr Emmanuel Marfo, I say ayekoo. Being one of us, he should be reminded that he has the support of the House at all times to bring success to the endeavours of the Climate Parliament and all other local and international agencies we continually engage with.

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.