By James Amoh Junior
Accra, June 24, GNA – ActionAid Ghana and Civil Society stakeholders have reiterated calls for urgent reforms in climate financing, energy transition and local ownership of development processes.
This comes as the country faces rising climate impacts, mounting public debt and energy insecurity.
The call formed part of discussions at a National Civil Society–Government Dialogue on Development Financing and Food System Reform held in Accra.
The dialogue, which was organised by ActionAid Ghana, brought together government officials, civil society actors, development partners and academics to examine how Ghana can build a resilient and inclusive green economy.
Held on the theme: “Reviewing Development Financing for People and Planet,” the dialogue aimed to confront systemic barriers and propose sustainable financing models for a climate-resilient future.
Stakeholders described the climate crisis as not just an environmental issue, but one with serious economic and social implications.
Mr Denis Gyeyir, Resource Economist and Africa Senior Program Officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), who provided sobering statistics, said climate shocks were projected to reduce the income of poor households by up to 40 per cent by 2050.
Flooding already displaces 45,000 people annually; and Ghana’s transport infrastructure could suffer a $3.9 billion loss within a decade, he disclosed.
“Our climate financing gap remains above $15 billion, and unless we close it, our future is at risk,” he warned.
Dr Robert Bright Mawuko Sogbadji, Deputy Director, Ministry of Energy, outlined several green initiatives by the government, including solar-powered mini-grids, a Green Transition Fund, and the development of a Renewable Energy Authority.
He also noted the removal of import taxes on electric vehicles and a partnership with ECOWAS to develop green hydrogen production.
“These steps are designed to make Ghana a regional leader in sustainable energy,” Dr Sogbadji said, and that “The energy future is green, and Ghana must lead with both vision and capacity.”
Despite these advances, the participants emphasised the need for stronger domestic action and community-led solutions.
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director, ActionAid Ghana, reiterated the call for systemic reform in how Ghana mobilises and allocates resources.
“We cannot achieve climate resilience on borrowed money. Development financing must prioritise the needs of the people and the planet, not only those of creditors and corporations,” he said.
He called for an end to illicit financial flows, stronger corporate tax accountability, and expanded investment in gender-just, locally owned solutions.
Mr Wilberforce Laate, Development Specialist, Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) described agroecology as a critical element of climate resilience.
“Agroecology is not just about farming. It is about dignity, independence, and economic sustainability. It reduces reliance on expensive inputs and builds community resilience,” he said.
Mr Charles Vandyck of West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) stressed the need for accountable and innovative financing.
“Borrowing is not a sustainable model. We need to fund our future using tools that align capital with our development values,” he said.
The civil society leaders resolved to invest significantly in green energy and agroecology, integrate green budgeting into national and local policies and promote inclusive energy access through youth employment and community ownership.
They called for structural inequalities in domestic and international finance to be addressed.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie
June 24, 2025