At a time when climate change continues to bite hard with floods, droughts, and rising temperatures becoming more frequent across the country, it is emerging that strong financial muscles to the tune of about $16 billion are needed to help the country fulfill its climate commitments.
Approximately, Ghana needs between $9.3 billion and $16.6 billion to fully implement its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) in order to adapt and mitigate the impact of the ever-changing climate.
The impact of climate change has undoubtedly become a threat to Ghana’s economy, especially agriculture. Experts say the unpredictable weather patterns are a threat to agricultural produce. In addition, women and children are the most socio-economically impacted due to climate change.
Hence, there is a global clarion call for countries to implement actions that will help to adapt and mitigate the impact of the menace. Ghana has developed a climate change policy and NDCs to help the country mitigate the impact.
Speaking at a national stakeholder dialogue on Strengthening Inclusive Climate Governance in Accra, Daniel Akwetey Lamptey, Principal Project Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), emphasized that Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are not just climate targets, they represent the development hopes and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
“The NDCs are development-focused. They are anchored on our national agenda,” Mr. Lamptey noted. “They are not just environmental. They are about building a stronger, more resilient Ghana for us all.”
The event, themed “Strengthening Inclusive Climate Governance”, was organized by Transparency International Ghana with support from the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP).
What Are NDCs, and Why Do They Matter?
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are Ghana’s blueprint for fighting climate change under the Paris Agreement. In simple terms, they spell out what Ghana intends to do, both to cut down emissions of harmful greenhouse gases and to adapt to a changing climate that is already disrupting lives and livelihoods.
Ghana’s updated NDCs include 47 specific programmes of action, with 34 focused on mitigation and 13 focused on adaptation.
Mitigation: Cutting Harmful Emissions
Mitigation refers to actions that help to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (e.g., planting trees) and avoid emissions from happening in the first place such as using renewable energy instead of diesel.
It also focuses on reducing emissions from economic activities such as cleaner cooking fuels, electric transport.
These efforts aren’t just good for the environment. They also help Ghana save foreign exchange, cut pollution, and create new green jobs.
Adaptation: Living with Climate Change
But climate change is already here. Farmers are struggling with unpredictable rains, fishing communities are losing their coastlines, and cities are battling floods. That’s why the other 13 programmes focus on adaptation, helping communities and systems adjust to climate impacts.
Experts say adaptation is about resilience. It’s about how we live and thrive in extremely warm or cold weather. It’s about reducing risks and enhancing our ability to cope.
This could include better irrigation systems, flood control measures, drought-resistant crops, and early-warning systems.
“On adaptation, the government has committed to implementing 13 programmes. And those programmes are supposed to build our resilience, because the climate is already changing, or the globe is already warming. So, how do we reduce the risk of climate change, or how do we enhance our coping capacity to be able to live with a changing climate?” he indicated.
The Big Question: Where Will the Money Come From?
While the NDCs offer a clear roadmap, the cost of turning these plans into action is steep: between $9.3 billion and $16 billion by 2030.
Ghana is expected to fund part of it from domestic resources, but the majority must come from international climate finance, development partners, and private investment. Without timely and predictable funding, many of these programmes will remain on paper only, and communities at the frontline of climate change will continue to suffer.
Climate Action is Global and Local
Daniel Lamptey also emphasized that while Ghana’s climate actions serve local communities, they contribute to global climate solutions. He says that when we reduce emissions or plant forests, the benefits go beyond Ghana. We are supporting the world’s fight against climate change.
This highlights why equity in climate finance is essential. Ghana and other African nations, though responsible for only a tiny fraction of global emissions, are facing some of the worst consequences of climate change.
The multi-stakeholder dialogue brought together actors from government, civil society, academia, media, and development partners, all agreeing that successful climate action in Ghana will depend on partnerships, accountability, and transparency.
As Ghana moves to roll out its climate programmes, the call is growing louder: Let the climate finance flow, and let it reach those who need it most, farmers, fisherfolk, women, youth, and vulnerable communities.
