President Akufo-Addo has described as unfair, calls for Africa to halt the exploitation of its natural resources as a way of contributing to fighting climate change.

Speaking at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, the President asked world leaders how they expect Africa to finance its challenges without exploiting its natural resources.

"Agriculture, water, energy, and the extraction of mineral resources are essential drivers of development in our countries but, at the same time, are characteristically sensitive to changing climate.

"The African Development Bank has stated that the continent will need some $3 trillion "in mitigation and adaptation by 2030" to enable us to implement our nationally determined contributions.

"The obvious question arises as to how do we, in Africa, finance these commitments, especially as our socio-economic development continues, unfortunately, to be low," he said.

He added, "The Almighty has blessed our lands with abundant natural resources, and it would be wholly unfair for the world to demand that Africa abandons the exploitation of these same resources needed to finance its development and help us to cope better with the threat of climate change."

President Akufo-Addo also mentioned that although Africa contributes less than four per cent of emissions in the world, the continent is the most affected by the adverse effects of climate change.

He explained that the African continent suffers the most because, "our agrarian and resource-driven economies are peculiarly susceptible to the effects of climate change, and our capacity to withstand its shocks, is weak."