Africa needs partnership, not charity for green transition – Ghana to COP30

Ghana has called on global leaders at COP30 to pursue a climate agenda rooted in fairness and true partnership, stressing that Africa cannot achieve a just energy transition without predictable financing and shared responsibility.

Addressing the conference on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah said Africa’s position remains firm: “We are not asking for charity. We are asking for partners in the truest sense of the word.”

He argued that although Africa contributes least to global emissions, it faces the harshest effects of extreme weather, deteriorating ecosystems, and deepening inequalities.

“These are not abstract climate models,” he noted. “They are realities that translate into hunger, malnutrition, and the loss of livelihoods that sustain vulnerable communities.”

Buah emphasised that Africa is not a passive victim of climate disruption but a continent “of resilience and action” determined to shape its own future.

He warned that any energy transition that ignores development needs would be unjust. “To deny Africa the strategic use of its resources is to deny our right to develop, to light our homes and to power our industries,” he said.

Highlighting Ghana’s shift from ambition to implementation, he pointed to the country’s energy transition framework, which outlines a pathway to net zero emissions by 2060 while safeguarding economic growth.

He cited efforts to expand renewable energy, develop nuclear power, and open new investment avenues under Ghana’s green minerals and carbon market frameworks.

“These initiatives create transparent pathways for global partners to invest in clean energy, forest restoration, and value-added mineral processing,” he said.

Mr. Buah also referenced Ghana’s Tree for Life programme, which aims to plant 30 million trees annually to restore forests, boost carbon sequestration, and create youth employment.

He described it as a “bold step to protect our natural heritage” and invited climate financiers to help scale the initiative.

Calling for urgent reforms in global climate finance, he urged partners to honour long-standing commitments with investments that directly reach communities. “Match our ambition with your action,” he appealed, adding that Africa needs “predictable and concessional investments” with a strong emphasis on adaptation.

Mr. Buah urged delegates to leave Belem with a renewed resolve to harness technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence for justice, equity, and shared prosperity.

Brazil is hosting COP30 in the city of Belém, located at the edge of the Amazon rainforest.
The central focus of the agenda is to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement goals by moving from new pledges to concrete, practical action and solutions.