Youth Digital Activist for Green faith Ghana, Enoch Gyeedu has highlighted that Ghana’s renewable energy sector has the potential to generate over 500,000 new jobs by 2050 if properly harnessed.
He made this statement during an interview on Radio GIJ’s Eco Lens with Yasmin Rafat.
He mentioned that the use of renewable energy by the country can reduce climate change impacts and has numerous economic advantages.
“Africa is one of the lowest carbon emitters globally but faces the worst climate change impacts like droughts, flooding, food insecurity among others. But all this can be solved if globally we shift to renewable energy” he stated.
“According to International Renewable Energy Agency, renewable energy sources create three times more jobs that fossil fuels” he added.
Mr. Gyeedu also said that the use of fossil fuels in the production of energy causes a lot of long-term diseases and the transition to cleaner energy sources can improve air quality and reduce oiliness caused by the gas flaring and smoking pollutants.
“….If you go to Niger Delta in Nigeria, because of the gas flaring and the oil that they’ve been doing, although they get money, people are living poor. It has reduced their life expectancy to 41”, he added.
He attributed deforestation for fuel and charcoal as a significant contributor to environmental degradation.
“…renewable energy like solar and wind reduces dependence on such harmful practices. So, if we shift into renewable energy, it allows us reduce our dependence on fuel, wood and charcoal”
He concluded by urging all individuals to engage in the fight for sustainability in the country no matter how small, and make good use of NGOs like GreenFaith Ghana, Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) and the Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance; groups he has affiliations with to among other things gain new skills to join the fight for a sustainable future.
