The German Federal Minister of Education and Research, (BMBF)Her Excellency. Prof. Anja Karliczeck will grace the 3rd WASCAL Ministerial Council Meeting scheduled to take place in Accra on 30th July,2019.
The meeting is part of the periodic gathering of sector ministers within the WASCAL member states in West Africa. Per the constitution, the Ministerial Council is the highest organ of the institution and its meeting is geared towards deepening the relationships among the country members on one side and between them and the German partner at the policy making levels.
Speakers include the Minister of Higher Education and Research of the Republic of Benin and Chairperson of WASCAL Council of Ministers Her Excellency, Mrs. Marie Odile Attanasso and the ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, His Excellency Mr. Sékou Sangaré.
The event is under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana through Honourable. Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, who is also the by the Permanent Vice Chairman of WASCAL.
This year’s theme, “Deepening Partnerships between German and West African Policy Makers towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action” is designed to showcase strategies by Policy Makers in ensuring a sustainable fight against the climate change challenge in the sub-Region.
These Ministers consist of the Ministers in charge of WASCAL, The WASCAL Council of Ministers elects a Chairperson to serve for a term of two (2) years, renewable only once. the Republic of Ghana, in its capacity of WASCAL host country, occupies the seat of a Permanent Vice-Chair of the Council.
The Meeting will also see the official integration of Cape Verde, as the latest member country to join WASCAL.
The Council also examines and approves reports and other major documents of WASCAL as well as confirm candidates nominated by their respective ministers, to represent the Parties of the WASCAL Cooperation Agreement. Selected WASCAL Alumni will share their impact stories as far as their relationship with WASCAL is concerned. Since 2012, WASCAL, with sponsorship from BMBF has produced hundreds of PhD and Master’s graduates from within the 10 West African countries to pursue various climate change courses on full scholarship. Each academic year, at least 10 students from each member country are fully sponsored to pursue various climate change programmes ranging from Climate Change and Energy to Climate Change and Water Resources.