The Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa, a leading CSR and sustainability advocacy organisation in the sub-region since 2015 has called on political parties in Ghana, especially the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the main opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC) to embrace and place sustainability at the forefront of their agendas as Ghanaians prepare to vote in a highly competitive general elections this December 7.

In a statement released by the Centre, Mr. John Kojo Williams, the co-founder and lead project manager, espoused that: “Globally, we are at the crossroads of sustainability, our environmental challenges are increasing, climate change is impacting negatively on our society.

Ghana is not exempted from these daunting issues as our rainfall patterns are becoming erratic and continue to adversely affect agriculture. Additionally, rising sea levels are threatening our coastal communities.

As a polity, we must embrace the evolving global trends, our political leaders must recognize the urgent need to take action and our policymakers must prioritize sustainability to safeguard the livelihoods of Ghanaians and the prosperous country every political party plans to achieve for Ghana.

He emphasized: “We must integrate sustainability into the policies we are developing and these could include support for renewable energy initiatives, sustainable agriculture practices, and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. These are practical steps we can implement to help Ghanaian businesses become competitive in a global market that values sustainability. So, in embracing sustainability, everyone has a role to play. Our political parties, leadership of the business community, government agencies and sustainability advocacy organisations must lead the way to a sustainable Ghana.”

The Centre for CSR, West Africa is notable for its CSR and sustainability advocacy projects and events such as the National CSR and Sustainability Conferences and the highly-stringent Ghana CSR Awards (GHACEA). These initiatives, the Centre noted, have helped create better and deeper understanding of the concept of CSR and sustainability among some Ghanaian-owned companies and compelled international companies operating in Ghana, to localise and implement sustainable initiatives they obtain from their headquarters that are usually based in Europe, Asia or the United States.

According to a CSR and sustainability research conducted by Judge Business School of the University of Cambridge UK, which the Centre for CSR West Africa contributed to, Ghana needs to intensify efforts at creating more awareness about sustainability and making it a centrepiece conversation in boardrooms in Ghana. The research also noted that a few Ghanaian-owned businesses are gradually emulating best sustainability practices from the multinational counterparts, as they make effort to replicate projects and initiatives implemented by these companies, but on a smaller scale.

Mr. Williams noted that: “Ghana is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so, all political parties, especially the NPP and the NDC, must commit to establishing an enduring legacy of progress and innovation by embracing and priotizing sustainability in their quest to build a more resilient future for Ghana.”

The Centre for CSR, West Africa at a glance:

• The Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), West Africa, is a leading CSR and sustainability strategy development and policy advocacy organisation in the sub-region.
• Founded in 2015, the Centre’s flagship national CSR seminars, conferences, awards and events have been attended by leading local and multinational companies, government agencies, academia, regulatory agencies and civil society organisations in Ghana, Nigeria and across West Africa.
• The Centre for CSR, West Africa is at the forefront of helping all major actors in the CSR and sustainability spectrum demystify the misconceptions around sustainability, deepen understanding on sustainable global trends, develop localised sustainable plans and programmes for the private sector, advise government and regulatory organisations on sustainability policies, and assist in implementing strategies that foster them.

The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has called  on the Nigerian Airforce to intensify the use of their various platforms to bring an end to banditry and terrorism.

According to the Minister, you are key to this this fight and we must put our acts together on your active component to end this war.

In a statement signed by Henshaw Ogubike, director information and Public Relations, Badaru said this during his operational visit to the Air Component Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA at Katsina state on Monday 18th November 2024.

The Honourable Minister appreciated the heroic Air warriors who has continued to shine as beacons of hope, courage and resilience which is an inspiration to Nigerian people.

Furthermore, “the Minister opined that their efforts are yielding positive results as farmers are gradually returning to their farms, schools are reopening, businesses are picking up and Nigerians can now sleep peacefully.”

According to the Minister, the President and commander in chief of the Armed forces Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has expressed confidence on their unwavering loyalty, perseverance and professionalism. He recognizes the personal sacrifices you make every day to keep our country together.

It is pertinent to know that the President has provided the Nigerian Airforce with state of the art Aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance their attack capabilities. With the induction of these new platforms including the   T129 Attack Helicopter, ” I am confident we will make Mr President and Nigerians proud.”

Consequent to this, ‘it is no coincidence that I am here today to flag off this critical phase of the Operations’. “I therefore urge you to synergize with the ground forces and other stakeholders to ensure maximum effect from these combat enablers” Badaru said.

The Honourable Minister of Defence H.E Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni continued his operational visit by also going to sokoto to inspect the combat readiness of the platforms and also toured the new site where the permanent base of the newly established  Airforce component of military operations against banditry and terrorism  and facilities will be built at Sokoto Airport.

In his remarks, the chief of the Air staff ,  Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, appreciated the Minister’s servant leadership style which is an inspiration to all. For him , the T129 Attack Helicopters will transform our operational capabilities to those who think they can destabilize our nation.

The Jigawa Youth Agenda has vehemently denied the unfounded allegations made by a mysterious group claiming to represent APC youth in Jigawa State against Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

After thorough investigations, it was revealed that this group is not officially registered with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa and seems to have been hastily formed to spread misinformation and disrupt party unity.

The Youth Agenda are in solidarity with Minister Badaru Abubakar as they reaffirmed its unwavering support for Minister Badaru Abubakar, acknowledging his exceptional contributions to the APC and Nigeria. His leadership and commitment are indisputable, from his transformative tenure as Governor of Jigawa State to his current role as Minister of Defence.

The them, Minister Badaru has done excellently well and the highlighted his key schievements to include but not limited to the following:

– Strengthening National Security: Minister Badaru Abubakar has enhanced Nigeria’s military capabilities, ensuring protection of lives and property.

– Forging Strategic Partnerships: He has fostered vital alliances with global defence organizations to bolster Nigeria’s security and modernize defence infrastructure.

– Promoting Youth Empowerment: The Minister has launched initiatives focused on education, employment, and entrepreneurship in Jigawa State.

– Advancing APC Unity: Minister Badaru Abubakar promotes unity within the party, fostering collaboration across Jigawa and nationally.

The so-called APC Youth Group’s allegations are an attempt to create division within the united APC family. The Jigawa Youth Agenda urges APC members and the public to disregard these unfounded claims and focus on strengthening party unity and ideals.

Minister Badaru Abubakar’s legacy remains a source of pride for Jigawa State and Nigeria. His dedication to national development, APC principles, and the Tinubu administration demonstrates his integrity and effectiveness. The Jigawa Youth Agenda urges Nigerians to recognize his achievements and support his efforts to build a stronger, more secure nation.

The Jigawa Youth Agenda reaffirms its full confidence in Minister Badaru Abubakar’s ability to lead and contribute positively to Nigeria’s development. Together, let us reject misinformation and uphold APC unity and progress at state and national levels.