Ghana is taking steps to strengthen its readiness for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with a renewed focus on leveraging ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and green investments as key components of its climate action strategy.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Richard Gyimah, an ecotourism expert at the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, said the country’s post-COP29 agenda reflects a deliberate shift toward integrating nature-based solutions and sustainable land-use management into its broader climate and economic planning framework.
“Ghana is entering COP30 with stronger institutional coordination, clearer financing priorities, and a deepened understanding that conservation and climate resilience go hand in hand,” Mr. Gyimah said.
At COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ghana joined other nations in pushing for increased adaptation financing, forest conservation, and community-led carbon projects.
Mr. Gyimah noted that these commitments are now being operationalised through partnerships between the Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), and the private sector.
“We made strong commitments at COP29 to enhance carbon stock management and biodiversity protection. Now, the focus is on turning those commitments into measurable results on the ground,” he explained.
He highlighted that ecotourism is emerging as one of Ghana’s most practical and inclusive tools for achieving both emission reductions and economic diversification.
“Well-managed ecotourism projects provide incentives for local communities to conserve forests, reduce illegal logging, and protect wildlife habitats. That is climate action at the grassroots level,” Mr. Gyimah said.
Ghana’s COP30 delegation, expected to include representatives from the Forestry Commission, Energy Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Finance Ministry, is preparing to showcase progress in forest carbon initiatives, sustainable tourism, and renewable energy integration.
Mr. Gyimah emphasized that readiness is not just about participation but strategic positioning.
“This year, Ghana’s readiness goes beyond policy rhetoric. We’re presenting bankable projects, private-sector partnerships, and measurable conservation outcomes that align with the Paris Agreement goals,” he said.
The Wildlife Division, he added, is developing new frameworks to attract green investors into park management and eco-conservation facilities, helping transform protected areas into climate-resilient economic assets.
Mr. Gyimah observed that although global pledges for climate finance have grown, actual financial disbursements remain slow, limiting the pace at which developing countries like Ghana can scale up mitigation and adaptation efforts.
“Ghana is ready with data and projects, but accessing funds from global climate mechanisms requires strong financial instruments and transparent reporting structures,” he noted.
He pointed out that the Forestry Commission’s climate and ecotourism initiatives, including carbon sequestration programmes, reforestation drives, and sustainable park management can attract blended finance models that combine public funding with private investment.
“The future of climate action lies in innovative finance, green bonds, carbon credits, and ecotourism revenue-sharing models. Ghana is preparing to position itself for that,” he said.
At the local level, Ghana has ramped up its efforts to involve communities in forest management and eco-enterprise development. According to Mr. Gyimah, this approach ensures that conservation yields direct social and economic benefits.
“When communities earn income from ecotourism or sustainable forestry, they become partners in climate resilience. That is what we’re taking to COP30, proof that people-centered conservation works,” he explained.
He noted that Ghana’s biodiversity hotspots, such as Mole National Park, Kakum, and Ankasa demonstrate the country’s progress in balancing conservation with local livelihoods, a model that could inspire similar approaches across Africa.
As global attention turns to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Ghana is expected to reaffirm its commitment to net-zero pathways, forest protection, and green economic transformation.
