Haruna Iddrisu, the member of parliament for Tamale South for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has demanded an investigation into Ghana’s delegation to the Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai.
He said it was absurd that the nation had sent over six hundred (600) people to the conference.
On Monday, December 4, 2023, the former Minority Leader lamented the effect of COP28 attendance numbers on state coffers while speaking on the floor of parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, with this economic distress, how can Ghana lead a delegation of 618 persons? Are we shouldering the economic gain and hardship of the Ghanaian? And Mr. Speaker, I see a delegation of the president here at COP28… I am demanding that a committee looks at this,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
Ghana’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai appears to have grown from 350 last year to 618 this year, according to data made public by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
There are 523 people on the party overflow list in addition to the 95 members of the official parties list that make up the delegation.
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These are preliminary figures based on registered attendees; the UNFCCC will release the final figures following the summit, taking into account those who obtained physical badges at the venue.
With a record-breaking number of delegates in attendance, COP 28, which is scheduled for November 30 to December 12, is expected to be a historic occasion. Almost twice as many people as attended COP 27 in Egypt, 97,372 people are reportedly registered to attend in person for this year’s summit, according to the provisional total.
In addition, all delegates—including 3,000 “virtual-only” participants and “host country guests” from the United Arab Emirates—have been listed in the participant lists for the first time in the history of the Conference of Parties.
