Ghana has renewed calls for urgent and decisive climate action, insisting that Africa’s resilience must remain a top global priority backed by bold and reliable financial commitments.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the African Leaders’ Meeting on Climate Adaptation in Nairobi, Kenya, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu, said Africa could no longer afford delays as climate impacts intensify across the continent.
The high-level meeting, chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto, brought together African heads of state, government officials and development partners to advance adaptation financing and resilience-building strategies.
Delivering President Mahama’s message, Alhaji Issifu conveyed the President’s strong support for the meeting’s objectives, stressing that Africa was already grappling with severe climate shocks, including prolonged droughts, destructive floods and rising temperatures that threaten lives, livelihoods and hard-won development gains.
He said deliberations at the recent COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, had highlighted the growing urgency for action, warning that Africa’s vulnerability required more than pledges.
“Africa’s resilience is non-negotiable. The urgency of action cannot be overstated,” he said, urging leaders to ensure that climate commitments translate into concrete outcomes such as food security, water access and sustainable economic opportunities.
Alhaji Issifu called on African governments and their partners to unlock high-impact, resilience-driven growth by scaling up climate finance and strengthening partnerships with multilateral institutions and the private sector.
He described the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP2.0) as a critical pathway for building resilience across the continent, but stressed that its success depended on firm and predictable financial backing.
Reflecting on COP30 outcomes, he expressed concern over the direction of adaptation negotiations, noting that the reduction in indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation had weakened confidence in the process.
He said many countries viewed the reduction from 100 to 59 indicators as a setback, raising questions about transparency and technical soundness at a time when trust was essential.
Although negotiations eventually reached consensus, Alhaji Issifu noted that the final text contained weak language on Loss and Damage and failed to specify financing needs or scale, while broader climate finance discussions remained fragmented.
He also pointed out that proposals under Article 9 still fell short of developing countries’ expectations for a clear framework on the delivery of public climate finance.
Turning to Ghana’s domestic efforts, Alhaji Issifu said the country was embedding climate resilience into its national development agenda despite global financing uncertainties.
He highlighted Ghana’s push for green jobs, renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure under its 24-hour economy strategy, noting investments in solar power, hydropower and climate-smart agriculture.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including high financing costs, limited access to technology and unfair trade practices, stressing that no African country could achieve climate resilience in isolation.
“Africa contributes less than four per cent of global emissions yet bears a disproportionate share of climate impacts. This imbalance must be corrected through fair and accessible climate finance built on partnership, not debt or aid,” he said.
Alhaji Issifu said the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme offered a practical roadmap towards a climate-resilient continent but required substantial resources to succeed.
He urged global partners to support efforts to mobilise up to US$100 billion annually for Africa’s adaptation and mitigation needs, and to view climate action as a catalyst for industrialisation and sustainable growth.
Calling for a strong outcome from the Nairobi meeting, he appealed for a bold communiqué that would send a clear signal of Africa’s determination to act.
He also encouraged young people across the continent to take ownership of climate action, describing them as critical drivers of innovation and community-level solutions.
Alhaji Issifu reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to regional and global climate cooperation, expressing confidence that collective action could secure a resilient future for Africa.
“Ghana is committed, Africa is ready, and resilience cannot wait,” he said.
