The Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu, has underscored the need to treat weather forecasts as economic resources to aid in planning livelihoods.   

He explained that when weather forecasting is approached as an economic activity, it will aid individuals, businesses, and institutions to avert ad hoc planning. 

Mr Issifu made the remarks in a media interview at Parliament House on Thursday, July 8, after briefing the Parliament’s Assurances Committee on climate adaptation and mitigation measures. 

Responding to the Committee, the Minister said that in view of the June 29 devastating floods, he was tasked to source emergency funding locally and internationally to tackle flood challenges and climate interventions in compliance with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).   

He urged Parliament to ensure that only development projects with climate dimensions are approved, stressing that climate compliance must be integrated into all projects to reduce vulnerability.   

Mr Issifu revealed that he had signed about 50 proposals with various institutions to source funding towards augmenting the government’s efforts in tackling climate emergencies. 

 He called for intensified sensitisation to drive behavioural change, noting that the Ministry, in collaboration with other ministries, is setting up Climate and Sustainability Units to coordinate climate action across government sectors.   

He added that Ghana’s NDCs had been revised to ensure renewable energy adoption, with a master plan aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependence. 

Currently, renewable energy, he said, contributed less than five per cent to the national energy mix, but the government is factoring in a 10 per cent target.   

The Minister emphasised the need for deepened collaboration and localised adaptation to tackle climate effects, estimating that between 9.3 and 15.5 billion dollars will be required to implement Ghana’s climate action plan from 2020 to 2030.   

Chairperson of the Assurance Committee, Dominic Nitiwul, urged the Minister to submit proposals to Cabinet for local assemblies to ensure that all building permits incorporate climate-compliant dimensions.