The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation says climate change is having an adverse effect on the Ghanaian economy.

Dr. Kwaku Afriyie says although African countries’ contribution to climate change has not been vast, the continent, particularly Ghana, is bearing the brunt of the effects.

“We are at the receiving end of this global action. Africa’s contribution to global warming is very minuscule. But unfortunately, we are paying the price for this global action,” he stated.

Interacting with the press on Wednesday, Dr Kwaku Afriyie revealed that cocoa production, one of the major sources of revenue for the country, has been negatively affected.

“People may think this is an academic exercise but where I come from, I live through this climate change. A lot of you know that in Western North, Bia East and West are epicenter of cocoa production. Not anymore. The cocoa belt is moving southwards as a result of climate change and now the epicenter in the areas of Bogoso and Prestea which used to be too wet for cocoa production, these northern portions are now suitable for cashew and other resistant trees.”

He further revealed that the Western North used to produce about one-third of Ghana’s cocoa – 400,000 metric tonnes, but currently produces 150,000 metric tonnes of cocoa.

Meanwhile, Dr Kwaku Afriyie says as part of efforts to build climate resilience, an Adaption Fund Project has been executed.

The project is supporting four northern regions that have been hit hard by climate change, to enhance food and income security by rehabilitating, constructing and handing over five dams and five boreholes to some selected district assemblies.

These districts include Nandom, Sissala East in the Upper West Region, and Bongo and Bawku Municipal in the Upper East Region.