Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged Ghana to enhance its participation in international climate negotiations and to strategically position itself to take advantage of global climate financing.
She pointed out that Africa continues to suffer significantly from climate change, despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The Vice President made these comments during her visit to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) on Monday, July 13, 2026, where she received updates from the Acting Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and the Ministry’s management regarding its programs, achievements, and challenges.
She emphasized that the increasing effects of climate change on African nations highlight the necessity for Ghana to assume a more proactive role in global climate discussions while seeking opportunities to access international climate finance.
“I also highlighted the escalating significance of climate change, noting that while Africa contributes minimally to global emissions, the continent disproportionately endures its impacts,” she stated.
“This highlights the necessity for Ghana to maintain a strong engagement in international climate negotiations while positioning itself to benefit from global climate financing.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang further underscored the importance of converting environmental policies into tangible outcomes, asserting that effective governance relies on implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
“Effective governance necessitates the translation of policy into action and the assurance of ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that public policies yield measurable improvements in the lives of Ghanaians,” she remarked.
In light of recent flooding incidents in various regions of the country, the Vice President noted that stronger enforcement of environmental regulations must be paired with ongoing public education to promote responsible behavior.
During the briefing, the Ministry emphasized advancements in various government initiatives, which include the execution of the Circular Economy Policy regarding plastics, the promotion of green employment and clean cooking technologies, improvements in electronic waste management, research in climate-smart agriculture, enhanced environmental regulations, and initiatives to establish a Ghana Space Agency.
Additionally, the Ministry detailed ongoing efforts to commercialize scientific research through the National Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, while pinpointing insufficient funding, a lack of scientific personnel, outdated laboratory facilities, and the necessity to reinforce environmental legislation as significant challenges.
The Vice President further urged for enhanced collaboration between MESTI and other governmental bodies to bolster local manufacturing, generate employment, commercialize research, and support the government’s industrialization strategy.
She also reiterated the government’s dedication to safeguarding public lands from encroachment and backing the Ministry’s initiatives to leverage science, technology, and innovation for national development.
