Accra: Mr. Seidu Issifu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, emphasized the importance of understanding climate finance not merely as numbers but as a tool for protecting livelihoods and ensuring the planet’s future. He noted that climate finance supports communities in adapting to climate change, building resilience, and transitioning to sustainable practices, thereby safeguarding lives and ecosystems for the long term.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Issifu made these remarks during a speech at the conclusion of a Climate Finance Learning forum held in Accra. The event was organized under the Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) project, which is implemented by Cowater International and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The forum gathered 70 representatives from women-led, youth-led, and climate-focused civil society organizations, government agencies, funding institutions, and the private sector.
The forum aimed to galvanize support for inclusive climate financing that prioritizes women and marginalized groups in resilience-building strategies. Mr. Issifu reiterated Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that climate finance reaches the most vulnerable and fosters inclusive development. He urged for simplified access to funding, increased innovation from the private sector, and greater investment in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and climate-smart agriculture.
Madam Adwoa Fraikue, Director of the Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Finance, addressed the financial challenges Ghana faces in achieving its climate targets. She stated that Ghana requires an estimated USD 3.9 to 15 billion over the next decade to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but currently mobilizes only USD 830 million annually. Despite this shortfall, progress has been made through initiatives like the Climate Prosperity Plan, the Climate Financing Strategy, and the purchase of a Sovereign Drought Insurance Policy.
Madam Fraikue highlighted the government’s success in securing USD 921 million through Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposals, including a significant USD 442,968 grant awarded in 2021 to support civil society organization (CSO) training and the development of a national civil society climate change agenda.
Madam Lauren Intven, SIGRA Project Team Lead, reiterated that the project’s mission is to ensure that climate finance is accessible, inclusive, and driven by those most affected. She explained that the forum originated from CSO capacity assessments, where access to finance emerged as a key barrier. The forum aimed to share practical information on accessing climate adaptation finance and offered opportunities for networking, strategizing, and learning best practices from funders and successful funding recipients.
Madam Intven added that the project, aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, partners with key government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, alongside women-led and climate-focused CSOs. “SIGRA is working with these partners to ensure that gender considerations are integrated into climate adaptation efforts and to expand access to financing opportunities, particularly for women-led organizations,” she emphasized.