At COP31: Ghana pushes for bankable China-Africa green projects

Ghana has urged for intensified efforts to transform China-Africa green development pledges into bankable projects, mobilized financing and concrete development outcomes, as nations strive to expedite climate action and sustainable investments across the continent. Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, made this plea on Wednesday during the launch of a high-level discussion at the Ghana Pavilion at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey.

The meeting, themed "Shared Future, Shared Prosperity," centered on putting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) into practice through country investment plans, gathering various stakeholders to discuss green development collaboration. Speaking to the delegates, Mr. Issifu highlighted China's pledge within the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan 2025–2027 to back 30 clean energy and green development projects across Africa, calling it an opportunity to strengthen ties between the two regions.

However, he stressed that the commitment's success would hinge on the capacity of participating countries and their partners to shift from promises to viable projects that can draw investment and generate tangible benefits. Dr. Glen Gyimah, Green Transition General Manager at Jospong Group, expressed joy that Ghana was chosen along with four other countries – Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and The Gambia – to receive financial aid from the Global South, primarily for building resilience against climate change challenges.

Ghana would serve as the secretariat for these countries. Dr. Gyimah noted that the support would aid in implementing electric technology, green industrialization, climate-smart agriculture and value chains, as well as resilience and water security. "If Ghana is to have a climate rationale outlining our vulnerability and these three pillars, I think this is the moment to convert them into a bankable pipeline budget to evaluate the $3.2 billion earmarked for this coalition," he said.

Dr. Gyimah highlighted that the Climate Vulnerable Forum is now chaired by the Chinese government, which has allocated funds to enable vulnerable nations access to necessary resources. "This now provides access for government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector to develop bankable green budgets that align with their respective pillars, namely electric technology and green industrialization," he emphasized.