Action Aid Sierra Leone has urged political parties’ leaders to take the issue of climate change seriously, while expressing concerns about political parties neglecting to prioritise climate change issues in the 2023 elections manifestos.
Executive Director of Action Aid Sierra Leone, Foday Bassie Swaray said: “climate change is not at the top of political parties’ agenda.”
He emphasised the importance of addressing climate change, particularly for Sierra Leone, which is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and has experienced climate change-related disasters in recent years.
Mr Swaray called on leaders to “take the issue of climate change seriously” and make investment strides in mitigating its effects. Additionally, he highlighted the debt crisis in Sierra Leone and expressed the need for leaders to address it.
The event was organised by Shout Climate Change Africa (SCCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, with government officials and corporate representatives expressing their commitment to the issue of climate change.
The government has established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Environment to address environmental concerns. The CEO of SCCA also called on leaders to incorporate the climate change manifesto into their agendas.
