GHANA LEADS AFRICA’S PUSH FOR $100BN ANNUAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION FINANCE

Ghana has urged African nations to unite behind a bold call for $100 billion in annual climate adaptation and mitigation financing, warning that the continent cannot bear the escalating costs of the climate crisis without decisive global support.

Delivering President John Dramani Mahama’s message at the African Leaders’ Meeting on Climate Adaptation in Nairobi, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu, called for a coordinated continental strategy to strengthen financing and build climate resilience.

“Africa is facing unprecedented climate impacts, droughts, floods, and rising temperatures that threaten lives, livelihoods, and our developmental gains,” he said. “We must act decisively.”

The meeting, chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto, focused on advancing the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP 2.0) and developing a unified African position ahead of global climate negotiations later this year.

Alhaji Issifu said the urgency of sustainable adaptation funding became even clearer after the COP30 Summit in Belem, Brazil, where progress on adaptation finance “took a difficult turn.”

He criticised aspects of the Global Goal on Adaptation outcome, noting that reducing its indicators from 100 to 59 was “widely viewed as a step backwards,” and warning that it had eroded trust among developing nations.

“Although parties eventually reached an agreement, the text contained weak language on loss and damage and failed to reflect the true scale of developing countries’ financing needs,” he explained.

According to him, global climate finance mechanisms remain fragmented and inadequate, offering limited opportunity for developing countries to shape outcomes under the new Article 9 work programme.

He stressed that climate adaptation must be treated as a development priority, not a peripheral concern, warning that Africa’s adaptation finance gap is widening dangerously.

Turning to Ghana’s domestic efforts, Alhaji Issifu said the government was integrating climate resilience into national development plans and driving a 24-hour economy anchored in green jobs, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure.

“We are investing in solar, hydro, and smart agriculture to power Ghana’s sustainable future,” he noted.

However, he warned that high financing costs, limited access to technology, and unfair trade practices continue to constrain Africa’s climate response.

“Ghana and, indeed, individual African countries cannot do it alone,” he said. “We need peer and global support, fair financing, and appropriate technology transfer.”

Alhaji Issifu reminded participants that Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears the brunt of climate change impacts.

“This injustice must end. We need fair, accessible climate finance not debt, not aid, but true partnership,” he emphasized.

The minister described the AAAP 2.0 as “a beacon of hope,” urging African leaders and development partners to commit to making it a fully funded, operational vehicle for adaptation.

“The AAAP 2.0 is our roadmap for a climate-smart Africa. Let us mobilise $100 billion annually for adaptation and mitigation. Let climate action become a catalyst for Africa’s industrialisation,” he declared.

In closing, Alhaji Issifu urged African leaders to leave Nairobi with a unified and assertive message that Africa’s resilience is non-negotiable.

“To our youth, our future leaders, this is your moment. Engage, innovate, and lead climate action in your communities. Ghana and Africa are ready to collaborate, co-create, and drive sustainable growth together,” he concluded.

Source:NKONKONSA.com