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Speech
04 December 2025
Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima's Statement at the opening of ICASA
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Story
04 December 2025
ICASA 2025 Opens in Accra with Call for African Health Sovereignty
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Story
03 December 2025
Stakeholders unite in Accra to drive clean transportation at the 2025 ERA E-Mobility Conference
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Ghana:
Publication
01 April 2025
UN Ghana Annual Results Report 2024
To address multifaceted development challenges, our efforts focused on areas such as transforming food systems, accelerating digital transformation, advancing educational reforms, strengthening peace and security frameworks, tackling climate change, and supporting urbanization and humanitarian preparedness.Our collective work not only aimed to address pressing issues but also to establish a solid foundation for long-term sustainable development, with a continued commitment to the principle of Leaving No One Behind.Additionally, strengthening partnerships and securing financing for the 2030 Agenda remained a focal point, as did efforts to improve UN coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency through the approach of "UN Working More and Better Together."
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Publication
01 October 2024
UN Ghana Newsletter - September 2024
We are please to share with you the September 2024 edition of our quarterly newsletter. In this edition, Ghana signs historic Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene to accelerate universal access to WASH services, Gomoa East District receives a seed storing and rice packing facility to improve the livelihood of rice farmers, and 18,000 smallholder farmers supported to improve productivity in Northern Ghana, and more.
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Story
09 June 2025
UNESCO Supports “Echoes of the Landfill” Exhibition at Ghana’s Museum of Science and Technology in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025
The exhibition is a collaborative effort by the Museum of Science and Technology (MST) and ArtfullyYours, Bee Arthur Creative Productions for World Environment Day 2025. The exhibition convened six Ghanaian eco-conscious artists—Obed Addo, Beatrice Bee Arthur, Essilfie Banton, Andrea Ghia, and Salim—who excavate the hidden politics within discarded plastic: narratives of colonial residues, neoliberal excess, and quiet acts of African resilience as well as spotlight the urgent issue of waste and its impact on both the environment and human well-being, using art, culture, and science as powerful tools for awareness and change.“Echoes of the Landfill” transformed the museum space into a compelling narrative on environmental degradation, consumer culture, and the hidden legacy of landfills. Through installations made from repurposed and recycled materials, alongside interactive exhibits and multimedia storytelling, visitors were invited to reflect on the journey of waste—from homes and markets to dumping grounds—and its broader implications on ecosystems, health, and heritage. One of the artists, Bee Arthur shared saying “the artists in this exhibition do not recycle—they resurrect trash. Through sculpture, installation, painting, poetry, and photography, they force plastic to confess: as a relic of extractivism, a marker of climate injustice, and paradoxically, a medium for African futurity” “This is NOT an exhibition about waste. It is an intervention in time. A demand to rewrite the lexicon of value: that a bag is not "single-use" but a generational artifact; that those who scavenge are archivists of the Anthropocene” Bee Arthur further echoes. The UNESCO Representative and Chairperson for the occasion, Mr. Edmond Moukala stated that; “Echoes of the Landfill” is a powerful exhibition at the intersection of art, science, and sustainability, compelling audiences to confront the often-overlooked consequences of waste and consumer habits. Using artworks made from discarded materials, gives voice to the silent stories of landfills—reminding us that waste does not vanish but accumulates, leaving lasting imprints on the environment, our health, and future generations. In Ghana, where landfills grow rapidly with plastics, e-waste, and pollutants, this exhibition highlights the urgent need for national reflection on environmental choices and their impacts on urban life and ecosystems. Through its evocative displays, “Echoes of the Landfill” challenges us to rethink the afterlife of our consumption and the legacy we are creating”. “Echoes of the Landfill” opens on the back of an exhibition “Nature Without Humans” by Nii Boi which UNESCO supported at this same museum in 2021 on World Environment Day - a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world inviting viewers to imagine ecosystems, landscapes, and environments untouched—or recovering—from human impact.The exhibition highlighted the critical role that environmental education, youth engagement, and indigenous knowledge systems play in fostering responsible environmental stewardship. UNESCO emphasized that the integration of culture and creativity into environmental discourse can inspire more inclusive and lasting solutions to global challenges like pollution and climate change.The event brought together students, artists, environmental scientists, policy-makers such as Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie the sector Minister, agencies such as the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board and the Creative Arts Agency as well as members of the public, creating a vibrant space for dialogue and learning. In line with the 2025 World Environment Day theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution” the exhibition encouraged visitors to consider how waste impacts land use, biodiversity, and community life, and to imagine alternatives rooted in sustainability, innovation, and collective action.UNESCO commends the Museum of Science and Technology and its partners for curating such a powerful experience that bridges science and culture to provoke critical thought and promote environmental consciousness. By supporting initiatives like “Echoes of the Landfill,” UNESCO continues to advocate for environmental responsibility that is grounded in cultural awareness, education, and participatory engagement—empowering communities to act for a healthier, more sustainable future.
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Story
04 December 2025
ICASA 2025 Opens in Accra with Call for African Health Sovereignty
The 23rd Edition of the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) has opened in Accra with a rallying call to African leaders to invest in health sovereignty, protect rights, empower communities, and embrace innovation to end AIDS as a public health threat.ICASA, a major bilingual conference held exclusively on the African continent for over 30 years, has played a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, and Malaria, while fostering an environment free from stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families. It is the first to be hosted by Ghana.The conference, running from 3 – 8 December in Accra, is under the theme “Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated Sustainable Responses to End AIDS, TB & Malaria. It aims to catalyze Africa’s progress toward triple elimination and the development of sustainable, resilient health systems. It also seeks to drive innovation through digital technologies and strengthen cooperation among governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations to enhance health security and improve pandemic preparedness and response.It also seeks to strengthen capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, empower communities and promote human rights and gender equality in the context of HIV/AIDS as well as emerging and reemerging disease sustainable solutions to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of critical AIDS funding.Speaking at the opening on Wednesday, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, urged the continent to take bold steps forward, confront hard truths, and set its own agenda especially at a time when global shifts have led to reduced donor support for healthcare.“We cannot continue to outsource our healthcare priorities; we must lead our own reforms, build sustainable systems, and strengthen our collective resolve,” the Vice President said. For her part, the UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima declared that ending AIDS is no longer a medical challenge but a political choice. She urged African leaders to make three decisive commitments: to resource the HIV response despite collapsing international aid, to protect the rights of vulnerable communities amid rising criminalization and inequality, and to seize new innovations to secure health sovereignty.Ms Byanyima highlighted Africa’s disproportionate HIV burden – 19% of the world’s population but 65% of all people living with HIV – and warned that debt servicing and weak revenue collection continue to undermine health investment. She praised recent domestic financing commitments in countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ghana, but stressed that implementation is critical. She further pointed to breakthrough prevention tools such as long-acting injectables and vaginal rings, calling for expanded access and local manufacturing to ensure Africa benefits from innovations it helped develop. Delivering his remarks virtually, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohammed Janabi, noted that while new HIV infections have been declining, too many people have remained unreached since 2010. “ICASA is a chance to confront these gaps and strengthen the systems needed to close them. WHO will walk this journey with you,” he said.The United Nations is prominently represented at the conference, with UNAIDS, UNFPA,UNICEF and WHO bringing expertise and resources to showcase the UN’s commitment to empowering people, safeguarding rights, and delivering essential services to end HIV/AIDS.This year’s ICASA conference is being attended by heads of government delegations, health ministers, global health agencies, UN representatives, leading researchers, civil society groups, PLHIV networks, youth organisations, donor partners, community advocates, and private sector actors from across Africa and beyond. Also in attendance are continental health institutions, regional economic blocs, pharmaceutical stakeholders, and signatories to major global health initiatives, all reaffirming their commitment
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Story
03 December 2025
Stakeholders unite in Accra to drive clean transportation at the 2025 ERA E-Mobility Conference
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the transport sector is now the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions globally and is projected to account for more than 30% of total emissions in the coming years. Beyond carbon pollution, transport remains a major driver of short-lived climate pollutants and worsening air quality in urban centres. UNEP notes that achieving a cleaner transport future requires a comprehensive set of interventions from better-designed cities and expanded public transport to safer walking and cycling systems, as well as the adoption of cleaner, more efficient vehicle fleets, including electric mobility.Against this backdrop, the EV Revolution Africa (ERA) 2025 Conference brought renewed focus to sustainable transportation and Africa’s pathway toward a green mobility transition. Hosted by the EnergyQuest Foundation in partnership with the United Nations in Ghana, the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, and key ministries and government agencies, the conference served as a vital capacity-building platform to help African countries leapfrog toward clean transportation solutions, reduce emissions, and unlock economic opportunities within the growing e-mobility industry.ERA, an energy-transition initiative, aims to strengthen African interconnectivity and usher the continent into a “New ERA” of clean, resilient, and future-ready mobility systems. This year’s theme, “Clean Green Investment,” underscored the critical financial commitments required to power Africa’s sustainable energy future, particularly through the deployment of electric vehicles and other clean technologies. The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Hon. Richard Gyan Mensah, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing sustainable mobility. He noted the rapid growth of the country’s electric mobility sector, noting that as of October 2025, the DVLA had registered more than 1,200 pure electric vehicles, up from fewer than 200 in 2022, with over 20,000 electric and hybrid vehicles currently on Ghanaian roads.“The Government is undertaking decisive measures to accelerate clean mobility and attract green investment through phased procurement of government EVs in 2026, expansion of charging infrastructure, private-sector incentives, and the development of standards and regulations,” he stated.The Deputy Minister for Transport, Madam Dorcas Affo-Toffey, highlighted the role of EV adoption in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. An Economist at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Mr. Huzaif Musah said advancing the green transition requires building the capacity of young people to scale innovationThe CEO of Cubica Energy and convener of the ERA Conference, Lesley Arthur-Asiedu, highlighted Ghana’s potential to become an EV hub. “It is exciting where Africa is heading, and it is important to learn from those who have already made significant progress,” she noted. The high-level event convened industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and development partners to advance Africa’s e-mobility agenda. Discussions focused on electric vehicle technologies, emerging innovations, energy-transition frameworks, financing and investment, sustainability pathways, and the development of a robust and competitive e-mobility ecosystem.
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Story
28 November 2025
UN in Ghana and Embassy of the State of Palestine in Ghana mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The UN in Ghana, in partnership with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Ghana, held a solemn event in Accra to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, reaffirming the international community’s commitment to peace, justice and human rights. The event brought together diplomats, UN officials, and members of the Palestinian community.Children from the Palestinian community in Accra delivered a moving message appealing for a world where children can live without fear and wake up to safety, dignity, and hope. A poem written by Ms Hamida Apusiga Ayuba, a Ghanaian poet, was presented by Ms Malgu Seebaway, acknowledging the solidarity of the global community to bring an end to the ongoing crisis and for a lasting in the region. The Ambassador of Palestine to Ghana, H.E. Abdulfatah Ahmed Khalil Al Sattari, delivered an emotional address highlighting the prolonged suffering and resilience of his people. “We want peace… we believe that Palestine will be free one day,” he said.H.E. Zia Choudhury, the UN Resident Coordinator, read the statement of the UN Secretary-General to mark the occasion. The ceremony featured a curated exhibition showcasing the history of Palestine, key moments in its struggle, and the longstanding role of the United Nations in finding peaceful solution.
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Story
26 November 2025
UN Country Team engages Ghanaian youth to shape future development agenda
Young people make up 38% of Ghana’s population, a demographic reality that reinforces their critical role in shaping the country’s development trajectory. Recognizing the critical importance of their voices, creativity, and energy, the United Nations in Ghana continues to champion meaningful youth engagement as a cornerstone of its work. For the UN, engaging young people goes beyond listening; it requires empowering them, co-creating solutions, building trust, and ensuring that youth are recognized as partners in development, not passive beneficiaries. This approach has become a recurring theme in national discussions involving young people.To mark the UN’s 80th anniversary and in recognition of International Youth Day, observed annually in August, the UN Country Team (UNCT) placed Ghanaian youth at the heart of its commemorative activities. Under the theme “Shaping Our Shared Future,” the UN convened young people from across the country for a national youth engagement session aimed at generating youth-informed inputs to guide UN programming in Ghana.The event also provided the platform to announce the establishment of a Youth Advisory Group, a mechanism designed to institutionalize youth participation in UN processes. This group will enable structured, consistent, and meaningful dialogue between young people and the UN, ensuring that youth perspectives shape decisions, policies, and solutions that directly affect them.In a pre-recorded message, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, urged young people to be bold and honest in their contributions. “Don’t only tell us what is working, but also tell us what is not working… The UN cannot improve what it does not hear,” he said. He encouraged the youth to view themselves as partners rather than guests and to hold the UN accountable in areas where improvement is needed.. The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with the UNCT and the Inter-Agency Working Group on Youth. He stressed on the need for programmes that are responsive, inclusive, impactful, and forward-looking. “The Government of Ghana recognizes the urgency of ensuring that youth voices, ideas, and aspirations are fully integrated into national and multilateral decision-making processes,” he stated The UN Resident Coordinator, H.E. Zia Choudhury, echoed these sentiments, calling on young people to challenge outdated systems and collaborate meaningfully with decision-makers. “Youth is at the heart of the UN’s vision for Ghana. The Cooperation Framework positions youth empowerment as a cross-cutting accelerator because youth leadership is essential for progress in education, health and well-being, climate action, digital innovation, governance, and economic transformation,” he said. During the engagement, participants raised critical issues of concern in breakout sessions designed to explore the programmatic objectives of the UN. Adding depth to the dialogue, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, Esq., and the President of the Ghana Youth Federation and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, Mr. Sherif Ghali, delivered insightful remarks that emphasized the importance of sustained youth participation in national development.A highlight of the event was the announcement of the top three submissions of the UN Youth Innovate Challenge, an initiative of the UN in Ghana and powered by the UNITE Ideas platform to inspire youth-led solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable world. The selected projects were: “From Cashew Waste to Circular Power,” by Mr. Billton Nyarko followed by “KodeVR: Virtual Robotics For All,” by Mr. Jonathan Kennedy Sowah and Mr. Zenas Fiagbe’s “Eco-Africa App,” by Mr. Zenas Fiagbe. These initiatives clearly align with key frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023–2025), the UN Youth Strategy (Youth2030), Ghana’s National Youth Policy, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Through these efforts, the UN in Ghana reinforces its long-standing commitment to ensuring that young people are not only heard but are empowered as central actors in shaping Ghana’s shared future.
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Story
11 November 2025
Intelligently de-risking private sector finance for development objectives
Although micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) form the backbone of both rural and urban economies in Ghana, their owners face persistent barriers to financial inclusion. Despite representing the vast majority of the country’s businesses, employment, and GDP, many MSMEs — particularly those in rural areas and those owned by women — operate informally, have limited access to financial and literacy skills training, and often resort to expensive instant digital loans or informal borrowing since traditional financial services remain out of reach. As its use continues to expand, artificial intelligence (AI) offers new possibilities to help close the gap between MSMEs and formal financial services, enabling small business owners to expand their operations, enhance productivity, and thrive. In Ghana, the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is leading the Leveraging Digital Ecosystems for Increased MSMEs’ Productivity project — a Joint SDG Fund-financed programme implemented together with UNDP and UNCTAD. Among other objectives, UNCDF is exploring how AI can be leveraged to catalyze and de-risk investment in innovative, AI-driven solutions to bridge longstanding gaps in access, affordability, and trust. Download the full article (PDF)
Includes interviews, field insights from Kumasi and Takoradi, and examples of AI applications transforming Ghana’s financial landscape. Credits:Technical writing: Jennifer Spencer Co-author: Yaa Owusu-Amoah
Includes interviews, field insights from Kumasi and Takoradi, and examples of AI applications transforming Ghana’s financial landscape. Credits:Technical writing: Jennifer Spencer Co-author: Yaa Owusu-Amoah
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Press Release
09 October 2025
Independent International Scientific Panel on AI - Open Call
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has announced the Open Call for Nominations for the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI https://www.un.org/independent-international-scientific-panel-ai/en, which will be open until 31 Oct 2025. This will be the world’s first truly inclusive scientific panel on AI, a significant step in moving from principles to practice, translating the aspirations of the Global Digital Compact into operational mechanisms.
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Press Release
19 September 2025
African Countries Urged to Seize Economic Opportunities Through New Climate Plans
African governments are being encouraged to present their new national climate plans as opportunities to supercharge economies and boost living standards across the continent, as deadlines approach for all countries in the Paris Agreement to submit these plans."Strong new national climate plans are blueprints for stronger economies, more jobs and rising living standards, across all African nations. Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year," said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.“Africa is not just on the frontlines of climate impacts; it is also at the forefront of solutions. Right across the continent, we are already seeing massive potential and innovations which cut planet-heating pollution and build more climate-resilient economies. Strong new national climate plans are the key to converting that potential into real-economy outcomes at scale, including the millions of new jobs they create," Stiell added.The United Nations is calling on all countries to submit their new plans, formally called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, as soon as possible ahead of key milestones, including the UN Secretary General’s September Climate Summit and November COP30 in Brazil. September will be an important milestone, but submissions will continue in the run-up to COP30, with each plan helping to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius and protect all peoples, while also unlocking jobs, growth, and economic benefits at home.While particular responsibility rests with the largest economies, whose choices determine the global trajectory of emissions, it is essential that every nation puts forward its most ambitious plan, both to strengthen humanity's collective response and to drive each nation's own prosperity and security. Read more.
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Press Release
18 September 2025
INFoCAT: Piloting Youth-Designed Clean Energy- Powered Agritech for Smallholder Farmers in West Africa.
The INFoCAT piloting tour, is to show the creativity and problem-solving capabilities of young green innovators who have designed context-appropriate clean technologies, to enhance agricultural productivity, expand access to clean energy agritech solutions and reduce drudgery in smallholder farmers communities in Ghana, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire.After this piloting stage and a rigorous appraisal of these innovations, one innovator from Ghana and two innovators from Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire respectively, will receive a sum of $37,00 to scale up their innovations/businesses. During the programme:The innovators present, test-run and demonstrate how their agri-technologies function.Smallholder women farmers are trained on the effective operation of the technologies.Key stakeholders (Ministry of food and Agriculture, District Assembly members, renewable and agricultural experts and smallholder farmers and agro-processors), discuss the fine-tuning, scalability, sustainability, and adoption pathways of these agritech.Ghana:Innovations are piloted in Namesi -Yilo Krobo District of Ghana’s Eastern Region, Aveyime in the North Tongu District of Volta Region, Gomoa East District in the Central Region. Innovations include: -Integrated Cassava Processing Unit: A cassava peeling and washing machine, a cassava grater, an energy efficient multi-fuel gari(cassava flakes)roaster and a biogas system. This biogas system produces and stores biogas-to power a biogas generator that supplies electricity for use in facility (where this unit is kept). - A Solar-battery-powered grains dryer - A Rice winnower (solar powered)- A Smart solar powered irrigation system-A Groundnut plucking machine -A Mini Combine harvester to harvest and de-husk maize.Senegal:In July, some clean agritech were also piloted in Senegal: Bambèye (Diourbel region), Toubacouta (Fatick region), Taïba Niassène (Kaolack region) and Gapakh (Kaolack region). These innovations include:-A Groundnut pod plucker and dehuller, -A mobile solar powered cool house for preservation of harvested food crops-A cashew nut crusher A smart solar-powered irrigation system A dynamo- energy generator .The INFoCAT innovators in Cote D’Ivoire, will be subsequently piloting their clean agritech innovations in the coming months.Background-INFoCATUNU-INRA’s INFOCAT (Innovate for Clean Agricultural Technologies) is an initiative funded by International Development Research Center (IDRC) under the Clean Energy for Development: A Call for Action initiative (CEDCA). INFoCAT is being implemented in Ghana, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire. Project Partners are Enda Energie (Senegal) and UNU-INRA operating Unit (Cote D’Ivoire).Prior to this piloting stage, Innovators (10 in Ghana, 5 in Senegal and 5 in Cote D’Ivoire), were shortlisted as part of the INFoCAT Innovation Challenge. They each won an initial grant of $7,400 and were taken through a series of meetings with smallholders and industry experts, to fine-tune their initial agritech innovations to make them more efficient for farmers and agro-processors. A key element of these innovations is the renewable energy component. Industry experts: agricultural and renewable energy experts, have coached these young innovators throughout the process of fine tuning these machinery, to make them more environmentally friendly.
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Press Release
10 September 2025
New UNU-INRA report uncovers the economic, social and justice costs of Africa’s green transition.
The report Counting the Cost: From Extraction to Green Transition – Tackling the Dealbreakers of Finance, Justice and Development, shows Africa’s unique paradox: it is the world’s lowest emitter of greenhouse gases yet among the most vulnerable to climate impacts. At the same time, the continent holds vast renewable and mineral wealth critical for the global green economy. With 75% of global cobalt, abundant solar and wind resources, and rapidly emerging hydrogen potential, Africa stands at a critical inflection point.The study warns that multiple global crises are undermining sustainable development and increasing vulnerability across Africa, while debt burdens and weak adaptive capacity compound the pressures of climate change. Although Africa contributes little to global emissions, it is showing leadership in green development. Yet fossil-fuel dependent countries face the risk of stranded assets, with far-reaching consequences for jobs, incomes, and stability.The report underscores that energy insecurity remains acute. Africa requires $25–50 billion annually to achieve universal energy access by 2030, and a further $200 billion each year to finance its climate commitments (NDCs). However, current climate finance mechanisms continue to favour loans over grants, exposing the continent to new layers of debt.Meanwhile, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism threatens to erode Africa’s export earnings, raising fundamental equity concerns. Speaking at the Second African Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Prof. Fatima Denton, UNU-INRA Director and lead author of the report, noted: “Africa is asked to act as a carbon sink for the world, but there is no compensation or support mechanism to match this demand.”Despite these risks, the report highlights Africa’s opportunities. The continent’s vast renewable and mineral wealth offers a unique chance to lead in the green economy, but only if countries retain ownership and ensure domestic value addition. Without this, Africa risks repeating extractive patterns of the past.What is needed, the report argues, is green industrialization: powered by clean energy, anchored in critical mineral value chains, and designed to create jobs, build resilient infrastructure, and foster prosperity while respecting planetary boundaries. Regional integration — through intra-African trade, policy alignment, and joint infrastructure — will be essential to strengthen bargaining power and maximize the continent’s resource potential.“Justice must be at the heart of the green transition,” said Prof. Denton. “Africa cannot remain a cheap carbon sink or a raw materials supplier for the world. The transition must deliver sovereignty, resilience, and prosperity for African people.”Counting the costs of green transition compared to inaction will enable proactive planning and early action to avoid economic disruptions and ensure a just, resilient and inclusive transition. “Until Africa gives itself the space to change the narrative radically, countries that are high polluters will continue to dictate,” Denton advised.
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Press Release
18 August 2025
Ministry of Finance Hosts Strategic Engagement with UN to Strengthen Ghana–UN Development Cooperation
Ghana’s pursuit of resilient and inclusive development is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While multiple UN entities offer technical assistance, policy guidance, and financing support to the Government of Ghana, the absence of structured coordination risks fragmentation and reduced impact. This strategic engagement responds to that challenge, reinforcing the Ministry’s recognition of the UN’s pivotal role in supporting national development.The meeting brought together the Ministry’s representatives, heads of UN agencies and its technical experts who shared strategic priorities, key interventions, and collaborative footprints across the country. Discussions focused on emerging coordination challenges, streamlining multi-stakeholder collaboration, and aligning UN’s collective support with Ghana’s SDG implementation framework.This strategic engagement, ably facilitated by the Ministry and the Resident Coordinator’s Office, is a critical step toward ensuring that development cooperation delivers maximum impact. By aligning UN support directly with Ghana’s Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework, the partnership avoids duplication and channels resources where they are most needed.Participants emphasized the importance of data-driven programming, harmonized planning cycles, predictable financing and accountability mechanisms to ensure impactful and sustainable development outcomes. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to institutionalizing regular strategic engagements to improve the relevance and effectiveness of development cooperation. “We recognise that the UN System’s support is catalytic, and our partnership signifies the collective commitment we share towards achieving Ghana’s inclusive national development agenda and the SDGs,” said Hon. Thomas Nyarko Apem, Deputy Minister of Finance. UN Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury expressed appreciation for the opportunity and pledged continued collaboration: “This strategic engagement reflects our unwavering commitment to building stronger, more coordinated partnerships with the Government of Ghana. By aligning our efforts and deepening collaboration, we can accelerate Ghana’s development agenda and ensure that no one is left behind.”The meeting concluded with a strong reaffirmation of confidence in Ghana’s resilience and transformative potential. Stakeholders pledged to work collectively toward a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future, advancing good governance, economic resilience, and social inclusion.
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26 August 2025
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11 March 2025
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