Tamale Youth March for Climate Justice, Submit Petition to Minister Urging Stronger Environment Action
Tamale came alive on Tuesday[August 26] as hundreds of young people, women, and civil society groups marched through the city to mark International Youth Day 2025, calling for urgent action on climate change.
The march, organized under the theme “Climate Justice Now: Voices from the Youth, Action for All,” culminated in the submission of a petition to the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, urging authorities to prioritize climate justice initiatives.
The Youth warned that without stronger policy implementation, the region risks losing its ecological balance and economic base.
The climate justice campaign is a coordinated effort by Plan International Ghana, Activista Ghana, and the She Leads Social Movements, with support from other advocacy groups.
The petition, read by Osman Muslima Maligu, a member of the She Leads Movement, indicated the Northern Region’s vulnerability to climate change, citing prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, land degradation, and the destruction of water bodies due to illegal mining (galamsey) as urgent threats to livelihoods.
The petition urged the Northern Regional Coordinating Council to fully integrate national climate policies into district plans with dedicated budgets, prioritize women, youth, and marginalized groups in climate resilience strategies, and support smallholder farmers with climate-smart solutions.
The petition also stressed the urgent need for collaboration between traditional authorities, civil society, and government agencies to safeguard Northern Ghana’s environment and ensure a just transition for vulnerable populations.
On his part, Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John pledged his full support, promising to direct all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region to back the campaign.
He also urged the youth to steer clear of drug abuse and other vices, warning that such behaviors would undermine their advocacy.
The procession featured placards with messages such as “Our Planet, Our Duty,” “Clean Energy, Clean Future,” and “Demand Climate Justice, Act Today for Tomorrow, Your Voice, Your Power, Climate Justice now or never and others.”
Coordinator of Activista Ghana, Mr. Issahak Abdul Latif in a speech before the submission of the petition said their action was the beginning of a broader push for climate justice in Ghana, with the Northern Region serving as a rallying point for urgent environmental action.
