Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, has signed Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreement (ERPA) with Tullow Oil Plc to address deforestation and forest degradation in the country.
Officials say the landmark agreement, which was unveiled at a ceremony in Accra yesterday, represents a major step forward in Ghana’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. This partnership aims to promote sustainable land use and forest conservation while generating revenue for local communities and supporting Ghana’s climate change mitigation efforts.
Bold step
Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, described the agreement as a “bold and ambitious” initiative demonstrating Ghana’s leadership in addressing the global challenge of climate change.
He emphasised the importance of fair pricing of carbon credits, noting that the country’s partnership with Tullow sets a new benchmark for carbon pricing in the region.
According to him, the ERPA is part of Ghana’s broader efforts to promote sustainable forest management, and reduce deforestation and forest degradation.
The country, he said, had made significant progress in recent years, with initiatives such as the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme and the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project.
He indicated that the partnership with Tullow was expected to generate significant revenue for local communities, and support the country’s climate change mitigation efforts. He said the agreement also demonstrated the country’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection, and set an example for other countries to follow.
Scope
Julia Ross, the Director for People & Sustainability at Tullow, explained that over two million hectares of land in the country would be used to plant various trees and other carbon credit innovations.
She stated that Tullow had over the years made significant investments in the fight towards zero carbon emissions, with over $40 million committed so far.
She outlined the socio-economic benefits of the project, explaining that Tullow would continue to engage the Forestry Commission and relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.
Pride
Harriet Thompson, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, said she was proud of Ghana for continually showing dedication to curtailing forest degradation and mitigating climate change.
She said the British government sees this as just the beginning of many more successes. She lauded the team at Tullow and the Forestry Commission for the heights achieved, and encouraged other organizations to follow this example. “Doing this is good for business, good for the climate, and good for the people,” she said.
Details
John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, explained that the agreement would span a decade, and positions the Commission as a major source of approved and reliable carbon credits.
He explained that the official announcement was the crowning moment of intensive, dedicated, and sustained engagements between his outfit and Tullow Ghana.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Forestry Commission to the production of high-integrity carbon credits that would be appealing to the international market.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, John Kwabena Abbam Aboah Sanie, commended the partners on their efforts at reaching such a height, and hoped that the Forestry Commission & Tullow REDD+ Project would yield the highest results.
