Accra: Climate action must support Ghana's Reset Agenda and industrial transformation, create new economic opportunities, and strengthen long-term energy security, Mr Baba Seidu Issifu, the Minister of State in-charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, has stated. 'It must power development rather than slow it down,' Mr Baba Seidu Issifu said during the unveiling of work done by his office at the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability was established under the Office of the President to provide high-level leadership and coordination for Ghana's climate agenda. Its mandate is to coordinate national climate action, mobilise international partnerships, attract climate finance, and ensure Ghana's transition toward a resilient and sustainable economy.
The Minister acknowledged challenges, noting a limited technical capacity in carbon markets, particularly in areas such as project development, measurement, reporting, and verification systems, and regulatory frameworks. This limitation constrains Ghana's ability to fully participate in and benefit from emerging carbon market opportunities. Additionally, Mr Issifu highlighted the slow and complex accreditation processes for accessing major climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, requiring significant institutional readiness and compliance systems.
Mr Issifu pointed out the issue of global donor fatigue, with declining levels of grant-based climate finance and increasing competition among countries for limited concessional resources. This situation places additional pressure on countries like Ghana to position themselves more strategically and competitively. He stressed the reliance on loan-based climate finance raises concerns around debt sustainability and fiscal pressure, advocating for a shift toward more grant-based and concessional financing instruments.
He emphasized the urgency of reform and innovation, underscoring the necessity to build stronger institutions, develop new financing models, and position Ghana to effectively access and deploy climate finance in support of national development. Over the past year, the office focused on building the necessary architecture, governance systems, partnerships, and investment pipelines to advance Ghana's climate agenda and strengthen global credibility.
Looking ahead, Mr Issifu outlined priorities including increasing the volume of funded programmes and projects, advancing the accreditation of national entities to access climate funds, and supporting the scale-up of renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. The aim is to deepen Ghana's carbon market participation and position the nation as a regional leader in climate resilience, sustainable industrialisation, and climate-smart investment.
"Climate action is not charity. It is a strategy. It is an investment in Ghana's future stability, resilience, and prosperity," he stated, reinforcing the commitment to ensure Ghana is a proactive partner shaping solutions and advancing sustainable development.