Seidu Issifu (R) flanked to the left by Jürgen Heissel during their meeting
The Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Ghana, Jürgen Heissel, has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, to explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration in areas of environmental governance, renewable energy, climate finance, and green innovation.
During the visit, Heissel warmly welcomed the appointment of Seidu Siedu, describing it as historic, and a bold step by Ghana to elevate climate change to a national priority.
He lauded the foresight of John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, for establishing the ministerial position as a demonstration of strong political will in confronting the climate crisis.
Seidu Issifu expressed his appreciation for the Ambassador’s remarks and reaffirmed that his appointment reflects the highest level of political and governance leadership ever conferred on the climate agenda in Ghana.
He emphasised that the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability was created to champion a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to climate action.
The minister shared his vision to establish a Climate Change and Sustainability Hub in Ghana, a proposed centre of excellence that will serve as a platform for policy research, innovation, capacity building, mobilizing finance and stakeholder dialogue.
The hub aims to position Ghana as a thought leader in the region, driving transformative solutions that respond to national and continental climate challenges.
Seidu Issifu also outlined plans to create Climate Change and Sustainability Units within all Ministries, Agencies, and across the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
These institutional units will support the integration of climate considerations into planning, budgeting, and policy execution, thereby strengthening Ghana’s ability to implement its climate commitments at all levels.
Further, the minister disclosed preparations toward hosting a Climate Business Summit in Ghana, which will serve as a platform to attract climate investments, mobilize the private sector, and showcase innovative green solutions aligned with national development priorities.
Jürgen Heissel welcomed these ideas with optimism and expressed Austria’s readiness to align its expertise with Ghana’s emerging climate ambitions.
He highlighted opportunities for institutional exchanges, academic scholarships, and cultural cooperation, noting that such partnerships can play a significant role in building local capacity and accelerating climate solutions.
The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and transform shared visions into meaningful actions that deliver sustainable and climate-resilient outcomes for both countries.