Ghana’s Minister of State in Charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has outlined the government’s efforts to strengthen climate governance, improve coordination across sectors, and attract climate finance to support resilience and sustainable development across the country.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series held on 6 May 2026, the minister described climate change as a major national development challenge affecting critical sectors of the economy, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, food systems, and water security. He stated that climate action is now being treated as a central element of Ghana’s long-term development strategy.
According to the minister, the establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Sustainability under the Office of the President was intended to provide high-level coordination for Ghana’s climate agenda while strengthening international partnerships and improving access to global climate financing opportunities.
The minister noted that one of the key challenges identified upon assuming office was the fragmented nature of climate governance in Ghana. He explained that many climate-related initiatives were previously implemented independently across sectors, limiting coordination and reducing opportunities to align national priorities with international financing and investment mechanisms.
To address these challenges, the government has started establishing climate and sustainability units across ministries, agencies, and sectors of the economy. The initiative aims to improve collaboration, strengthen policy alignment, and support more coordinated implementation of climate-related projects and programmes nationwide.
The government also convened an inaugural inter-ministerial and agency technical working group meeting bringing together government institutions, financial organizations, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and development partners. The meeting was designed to strengthen coordination and create a more integrated national approach to climate governance and sustainability planning.
The minister further highlighted Ghana’s expanding engagement with international climate platforms and development partners. According to him, the government is working with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and various diplomatic missions to strengthen Ghana’s participation in global climate discussions and attract investment opportunities.
A key initiative announced by the minister is the establishment of the Climate Change and Sustainability Hub, which is intended to serve as a national centre of excellence for climate research, policy coordination, capacity building, and monitoring of climate programmes and initiatives.
The hub will include research and capacity-building units as well as a climate-focused think tank aimed at supporting evidence-based policymaking and improving climate action implementation across sectors of the economy. According to the minister, the initiative is intended to create a central coordination point for climate-related activities and support more integrated approaches to sustainability and resilience.
The government is currently engaging with international partners to secure financial support for the Climate Change and Sustainability Hub and to expand climate and sustainability units across districts throughout the country. Officials stated that this approach is intended to strengthen grassroots participation and promote bottom-up climate action strategies at the local level.
The minister emphasized that Ghana’s broader objective is to build a more resilient, investment-driven, and coordinated climate governance system capable of addressing environmental challenges while supporting economic transformation, sustainable growth, and long-term national development goals.
