Awudu Dramani Musah, senior skills advisor for the SNV GREEN Project, highlighted the potential for green jobs in over 95% of the various sectors of the economy.
He argued that transitioning from conventional economic models to a green economy is crucial due to its detrimental effects on local and global environments.
The transition process he proposed should be just to ensure everyone’s well-being and prevent job losses.
He said this involves minimising negative impacts and maximising job creation opportunities, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that no one is left behind.
The National Strategy on Green Jobs, sponsored by his organization, aims to capitalize on strengths and opportunities while addressing weaknesses and threats, according to him.
He said the strategy aims to prioritize science and technology education as a key factor in supporting green economy development.
Speaking at a sensitization workshop on the Green Jobs Strategy in Accra, he said we can use green jobs in the transportation industry, construction, cooking, and other sectors.
He said green jobs involve finance; hence, there was a need to develop a strategy that can help us achieve this, and that is what we at SNV are partnering with the Ministry to achieve.
The private sector’s involvement is crucial as it ensures the smooth functioning of the activity and avoids potential issues.
“We will have governments come and go, and so one of the activities is to work in partnership with the private sector and transition from brown jobs to green jobs. What we have witnessed across the globe is evident for all to see.
Awudu Dramani Musah noted that one of the major questions people ask is the availability of jobs in the green economy for people when we transition.
In his response, he said green jobs are not limited to agriculture, as some people perceive, because there are several opportunities across all sectors, and if we implement them, we can transition from brown jobs to green jobs in 95% of the sectors of the economy.
He stated, “When we talk about green jobs, there is no job that cannot be green. When we talk about green, people limit it to agriculture. But the green jobs are in all sectors, including construction, mechanics, transportation, energy, and electrical; any job at all has a green component in it. We have to study the policy and understand it.
The strategies that were all involved cut across all the sectors. I have travelled around the world, and the technologies available show that green jobs are possible. We can develop technologies and design buses that can reduce carbon emissions. The way we cook, the automotive industry, and others are all part of it.
I have personally researched, and there are documents from across the world to prove that this is possible. We only need to embark on a just transition. We are not asking people to rush, but we will embark on a just transition from the brown to the green economy.
There would be more jobs for everyone, so we have to transition. I know some jobs cannot be transitioned; about 95% of the job areas can be transitioned. It is an assurance, not from me, but research from the World Bank, ILO, and others,” he said at a training workshop for journalists in Accra on Thursday, January 25, 2024.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana