Ghana has urged African countries and their international partners to turn China-Africa green development commitments into investment-ready projects that attract financing, create jobs and strengthen communities against climate risks.
The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, made the call at the opening of a high-level engagement at the Ghana Pavilion during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye.
Held under the theme “Shared Future, Shared Prosperity: Aligning Climate Prosperity Plans with the Green Belt and Road,” the engagement examined how countries could advance commitments under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) through national investment pipelines.
Mr Issifu said China’s pledge under the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan for 2025-2027 to support 30 clean energy and green development projects across Africa presented a significant opportunity to deepen cooperation.
Delivering on that promise, he stressed, would require countries and development partners to develop commercially viable projects with clear, measurable benefits.
With the action plan nearing its final year, he called for faster implementation to ensure that commitments produce tangible development outcomes.
Connecting national priorities with investment
The Minister identified Country Platforms and Climate Prosperity Plans as important tools for turning national development priorities into credible project pipelines. These mechanisms, he explained, could connect projects with the financing, technology and partners needed for implementation.
He also pointed to the Green Belt and Road Initiative as an avenue for expanding investment in renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialisation and green technologies.
Such investments, he said, must respond to each country’s priorities, build local capacity and generate lasting benefits for communities.
Mr Issifu called for the partnership between the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 (CVF-V20) and the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition to deliver practical results.
He said its success should be assessed through projects developed, capital mobilised, jobs created and improvements in community resilience.
Ghana outlines domestic climate priorities
Turning to Ghana’s climate agenda, Mr Issifu said the country was advancing implementation through its Nationally Determined Contributions, the National Green Finance Taxonomy and measures to improve institutional coordination and attract climate finance.
He noted that President John Dramani Mahama had established a dedicated Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability to strengthen leadership and coordinate climate action across government.
As host of the CVF-V20 headquarters, Ghana also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting climate-vulnerable economies across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Mr Issifu described climate action as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future, with the potential to drive industrialisation, generate decent employment, improve energy security and build a more resilient economy.
He further stressed the need for affordable climate finance and debt sustainability to enable vulnerable countries to pursue their climate and development ambitions.
The engagement formed part of wider COP31 discussions on international cooperation and green investment, with an emphasis on translating commitments into practical interventions.
Mr Issifu urged African countries to take the lead in shaping their development pathways, while ensuring that international partnerships deliver meaningful cooperation and shared prosperity.
By Kwame Appiah Kubi
