Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has announced that Ghana will soon establish a Climate Change and Sustainability Hub to advance research, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration in tackling the climate crisis.
Delivering a keynote address on Day 2 of the Climate Justice Conference held on April 4, 2025, at GIMPA, Hon. Issifu emphasized that the new hub will serve as a central platform for bringing together government agencies, academia, civil society, grassroots movements, and the private sector to co-create inclusive and transformative climate solutions.
“The hub will be a one-stop centre dedicated to innovation, skills development, academic research, policy governance, knowledge sharing, capacity building, financing, and mentorship to drive climate solutions in Ghana and the sub-region.”
The two-day conference, themed “Advancing Climate Justice in Ghana: Legal Frameworks and Policy Pathways for Sustainable Development,” was organized by Eco-Africa Network in partnership with Frontline for Climate Action, GIMPA Law School, the GIMPA Law Students Association, GIMPA SRC, CESSMA, iSupreme, and Tictok. It brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders, including students, researchers, activists, and policymakers.
Mr. Issifu also urged global climate negotiators to prioritize the integration of debt relief into climate finance mechanisms. He emphasized the disproportionate burden that climate change places on vulnerable countries like Ghana, which face recurring environmental disasters triggered by emissions from industrialized nations.
“I urge negotiators at global climate forums to ensure that debt relief is treated not as charity, but as climate justice,” he said, calling for the advancement of a Climate Debt Relief Mechanism.”
Citing the World Bank’s 2022 Country Climate and Development Report, he revealed that Ghana’s annual losses from droughts and floods could escalate from $195 million in 2020 to $550 million by 2050, underscoring the urgency of climate adaptation financing.
He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to sustainable development, including investment in clean energy, afforestation, and climate-resilient agriculture. However, he stressed the importance of policy enforcement, climate litigation, and local-level adaptation initiatives.
“We must start seeing climate action not just as a necessity, but as a right. This is why we are championing the call for a Climate Debt Relief Mechanism—not as charity, but as climate justice.”
The Minister further emphasized the critical role of education in driving climate action, urging law schools to embed environmental law into their curricula and champion climate litigation as a means of accountability. He commended the work of NGOs and advocacy groups, encouraging stronger partnerships to close the gap between policy and grassroots impact.
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Story by: Wahab Abdul Razak | univers.ug.edu.gh
