Ghana is stepping up its climate leadership with a fortified strategy aimed at building local resilience, driving regional advocacy, and positioning the country as a climate-conscious country in West Africa.

In a bold declaration, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu, has called for deepened collaboration among sector ministries, district assemblies, and national disaster management bodies to protect the country’s most vulnerable communities from the worsening effects of climate change.

“We must work together; ministries, assemblies, disaster agencies to build a response system that is not only reactive but preventive,” said the Minister.

“The goal is to attract the right financial and technical resources to scale up sustainable solutions for vulnerable communities in Ghana.

As part of this new strategy, the Ministry is mandating the creation of climate and sustainability units across all sector-sensitive ministries, as well as climate desks within district assemblies. These bodies will drive advocacy, engage local communities, and monitor climate-related projects in real time ensuring that climate policies translate into action where it’s needed most.

The Minister emphasized that behavioral change lies at the heart of climate adaptation and that bringing the conversation to the grassroots level is essential for lasting impact. “Climate change is a behavioral challenge. To change behavior, we must take the conversation to the people who are most affected,” he said.

The Ministry is also preparing to launch a National Climate Hub, a centralized institution that will provide leadership in research, policy, data collection, and climate finance. The hub is designed to serve not just Ghana, but the entire sub-region, positioning the country as a climate leader in West Africa.

“This will be a climate home for advocacy, capacity building, and real-time support for CSOs, researchers, and development partners,” said the Minister. “Ghana is ready to lead.”