Climate change Minister pushes Ghana-China partnership for bankable climate investments
The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Mr Seidu Issifu, has urged African countries and China to move beyond climate commitments and deepen cooperation to mobilise affordable financing for bankable green projects across the continent.
He said the success of Africa-China climate partnerships must be measured by investments secured, projects implemented, jobs created and improved resilience for vulnerable communities, rather than pledges and policy declarations.
Mr Issifu made the call at the Ghana Pavilion in the Blue Zone at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, during an engagement on the theme: “Shared Future, Shared Prosperity: Aligning Climate Prosperity Plans with the Green Belt and Road.”
He said stronger cooperation was needed to translate international climate commitments into commercially viable projects and tangible development outcomes that could support sustainable industrialisation and shared prosperity.
The Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to climate action as a strategic investment in national development, citing its potential to create decent jobs, strengthen energy security, accelerate industrialisation and build a resilient economy.
He said the establishment of a dedicated Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability under President John Dramani Mahama demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening climate leadership and coordination across the public sector.
Mr Issifu said Ghana was pursuing its climate ambitions through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Green Finance Taxonomy and the Climate Prosperity Plan, which provides a framework for linking national climate priorities with investment opportunities.
On Africa-China relations, he welcomed commitments under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Action Plan for 2025–2027, particularly China’s pledge to support 30 clean energy and green development projects across Africa.
He, however, stressed that the commitments must translate into practical interventions, requiring both sides to develop bankable projects, mobilise affordable finance and ensure that investments deliver sustainable development benefits.
The Minister identified Country Platforms and Climate Prosperity Plans as important mechanisms for helping African countries establish national priorities, build credible pipelines of investment-ready projects and connect with financing, technology and implementation partners.
He highlighted the Green Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to expand cooperation in renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialisation and green technologies.
Mr Issifu called for stronger collaboration between the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 (CVF-V20) and the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition to advance shared climate and development objectives.
He emphasised that African countries must remain at the centre of defining and directing their development pathways, ensuring that international partnerships respond to their priorities and circumstances.
The Minister urged stakeholders to adopt practical measures of success for climate partnerships, including the volume of investments mobilised, the number of projects developed, employment opportunities created and improvements in the resilience of vulnerable communities.
Judith Twumwaa, ISD
