The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has called for deliberate efforts to ensure workers and job seekers acquire the requisite skills relevant to the emerging green economy.
According to the ministry, promoting green economy would contribute immensely to curbing the effects of climate change.
To this end, the ministry has developed a National Green Jobs Strategy as a coordinated framework to guide the implementation of measures for the maximization of job creation potential of the emerging green economy.
Its overall objective is to ensure policy alignment and coordination for green skills’ development, support the creation of green enterprises, mobilise funds to support green businesses and sustain awareness creation.
The sector Ignatius Baffour Awuah made the call in an address read on his behalf at a sensitisation and awareness creation workshop on the National Green Jobs Strategy (2021-2025) for planners and budget officers in the Western Region.
The workshop was among other things to help enhance the participants’ understanding of the National Green Jobs Strategy.
It was in collaboration with the Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV, under its European Union-funded GrEEn Project.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah mentioned that he was excited about the immense potential that the National Green Jobs Strategy holds for the region.
In an address read on his behalf, the minister noted “With our abundant natural resources, including Pristine Forests, Fertile Lands, and beautiful Coastal Areas, we are well-positioned to embrace green growth”.
He said the creation of green jobs will additionally contribute to poverty reduction and the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Let us seize this opportunity to transform our region into a model of sustainable development and a hub for green job creation”, he pointed out.
Gideon Mankralo, the National Project Coordinator (NPC) for the Just Transition Project of International Labour Organisation (ILO), said the Green Transition seeks to ensure that the substantial benefits of a green economy transition were widely shared.
Ebenezer Martey, Business Development Advisor for the Green Project SNV was hopeful that when fully implemented, the strategy would ensure more investment in green jobs for a more sustainable future.