By:Isaac Amoah
Ghana’s former Energy Minister and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated emphatically that addressing the sustainability of our planet is not an option but rather an obligation.
“If we (Africans) are to create a future where our children and, in fact, generations yet unborn can thrive, we must embrace political leadership that champions sustainability in all sectors,” he said.
Dr.Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo
He indicated that having served as a legislator in Ghana’s Parliament for 16 years and as Ghana’s Minister of Education and Energy, he was humbled to say that he had witnessed firsthand the delicate balance Africa must strike
between development and our sustainability challenge. “I dare say that … it will take us a very long time to address our sustainability challenges as a continent,” he added.
Dr. Prempeh, who is popularly known in the political space as Napo, revealed that the world’s population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050. “Picture a world where our children breathe clean air, drink clean water, and inherit a planet with biodiversity. This is the promise of sustainability, a promise increasingly threatened by the challenges we face today,” he pointed out.
“Critical questions have arisen as the African continent transitions beyond the SDGs and their once-far-away deadlines. With the understanding that many of our goals are yet to be achieved and challenges yet to be resolved, how can we achieve balance and harmony for our ecosystems and who will lead the way?” he asked rhetorically.
According to him, just last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report painted a dark picture of our world. Extreme weather events, ranging from devastating floods and fires to scorching heat waves, are becoming the new normal. “The World Wildlife Fund estimates that we have lost nearly 70% of the planet’s vertebrate populations in the last 50 years,” he added.
The former Energy Minister made these comments in Kenya when he delivered a keynote speech at the Alliance for Science, Global Consortium: The Future of Science Communication, which was on the topic: “The Sustainability Challenge for Africa”.
He said, “Political actors are the drivers of sustainable development. The public sector is characterised by the public services which are offered by the government. By doing this, the government becomes responsible for the social and economic development of a country, region, or locality. Political actors themselves, at the core of their work, understand sustainability as they operate in most countries within four-year cycles. Every four years, they are held accountable by their constituents to account for how they have represented and furthered the socio-economic development of that region.”
“Once again, I am of the firm belief that the convening of technocratic and political actors in collaborative forums such as this organised by the Alliance for Science are the core drivers of true sustainability.
Yes, we need political champions to promote sustainability! But beyond that, we also need citizens, businesses, and institutions to hold leaders accountable. Political champions alone cannot drive change—we must all demand sustainable policies, participate in green initiatives and make responsible choices in our daily lives,” he stressed.
“As I conclude, let us remember that leadership is not only about the present; it is also about securing the future. Let us support, elect, and encourage leaders who prioritise sustainability. Let us make sustainability a permanent part of our national and global discourse,” he added.
