Damongo: The Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has successfully held the Savannah Regional Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Change and Sustainability, bringing together key government institutions, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to shape Ghana's emerging climate governance architecture. The consultation, held in Damongo, formed part of Government's nationwide engagement to strengthen climate governance through inclusive stakeholder participation and decentralized climate action.
According to Ghana Web, the programme was jointly led by the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, and the Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe. Participants included Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Coordinating Directors, Planning Officers, technical officers, representatives of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM), and other key stakeholders.
The Savannah Regional Consultation is a national initiative to enhance Ghana's institutional framework for climate governance through stakeholder consultation, awareness creation, and capacity building. It seeks to gather stakeholder inputs to inform the establishment of a National Climate Change and Sustainability Hub (CCSH) and Climate Change and Sustainability Units (CCSUs) within Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and MMDAs.
A key aspect of the consultation was the technical presentations aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and tools required to mainstream climate action into regional and local development planning. Presentations covered topics such as the proposed CCSH and CCSUs, Ghana's climate change laws and policies, the Ghana Climate Atlas by GMet, and Climate Mobility by GCCM. These presentations stimulated discussions, with participants sharing regional experiences and proposing recommendations to strengthen climate resilience across the Savannah Region.
Minister Seidu Issifu emphasized the importance of localizing climate action, stating that climate governance must be rooted where impacts are most felt. He highlighted the creation of the proposed CCSH and CCSUs as foundational steps to coordinate climate action, unlock finance, and empower local authorities to build resilient communities.
Savannah Regional Minister Salisu Be-Awuribe expressed the region's commitment to collaborating with the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability to implement climate-smart development interventions. He encouraged all MMDAs to participate actively in the proposed climate governance structures.
The consultation saw strong stakeholder participation from Regional Coordinating Councils, MMDAs, government agencies, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Participants emphasized the need for technical support, institutional coordination, capacity building, and improved access to climate finance to enable effective local responses to climate challenges.
The successful Savannah Regional Stakeholder Consultation marks a milestone in Ghana's efforts to establish an inclusive, science-based, and decentralized climate governance system. The outcomes will contribute to strengthening institutional coordination, improving climate planning, enhancing access to climate finance, and accelerating the implementation of Ghana's commitments under international agreements.
As the Government continues nationwide consultations, the Savannah Region has demonstrated its readiness to lead in building a resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart future for Ghana.