Ghana strengthens climate negotiation capacity ahead of COP31

By Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA – Ghana is strengthening its climate negotiation capacity ahead of COP31 in Türkiye, with access to climate finance emerging as a key concern. The initiative is being implemented through the National Roster of Experts on Climate Negotiations, established by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to improve coordination, preserve institutional knowledge, and strengthen Ghana’s effectiveness in global climate negotiations. Mr Kassim Hussein, a Negotiator on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), said the engagement aims to mobilize key stakeholders and lead negotiators to review outcomes of recent United Nations climate discussions and develop unified national positions ahead of the November conference. He explained that the process would enable Ghana to assess decisions from meetings of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), translating them into strategic negotiating positions for COP31. Mr Hussein noted that while international financing mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) present significant opportunities for developing countries, Ghana faces challenges in accessing such resources due to limited capacity to develop bankable project proposals meeting international funding institution requirements. Dr Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Ghana’s Lead Negotiator under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Acting Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation at the EPA, said the roster would institutionalize Ghana’s climate negotiation capacity. The platform would maintain a database of experts, strengthen institutional memory, support mentorship and knowledge transfer, and improve coordination in developing national positions. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, academia, civil society organizations, youth groups, and other stakeholders, with the EPA serving as the secretariat under the oversight of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). A Technical Coordination Committee and thematic working groups would be established to focus on priority negotiation tracks. Dr Samuel C. Dotse, CEO of the HATOF Foundation, highlighted climate finance as a critical issue for COP31 discussions. He urged Ghana and other developing countries to press developed nations to fulfill their UNFCCC commitments, particularly in providing adequate, predictable, and accessible climate finance. Dr Dotse expressed concern that climate financing is shifting from grant-based support to market-based mechanisms, adding financial strain to developing countries already facing fiscal constraints. He emphasized the need for Ghana’s negotiating priorities to reflect the realities of vulnerable sectors, including agriculture, water resources, and energy. Dr Dotse also called for reviewing complex eligibility requirements attached to climate finance mechanisms, arguing these often disadvantage developing countries seeking resources for adaptation and mitigation projects. The next stage should focus on building wider national consensus through engagement with political leaders on issues shaping negotiations at COP31.