Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Mr. Issifu Seidu has told delegates at the COP31 in Antalya that for Ghana, climate action is not charity, but a strategic investment in the future.
Delivering his opening address at the Ghana Pavilion, Blue Zone, on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, on the theme: ‘Shared Future, Shared Prosperity — Aligning Climate Prosperity Plans with the Green Belt and Road’, the Minister said climate action is an opportunity to accelerate industrialization, create decent jobs, strengthen energy security and build a resilient and prosperous economy.
The session, which was Part II, Operationalizing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) through Country Investment Pipelines, brought together global leaders, distinguished delegates and partners from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Ghana hosts CVF-V20
The Minister reminded delegates that Ghana is proud to host the headquarters of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 (CVF-V20), and to stand in solidarity with climate-vulnerable economies.
He said it is in recognition of this imperative that President John Dramani Mahama established a dedicated Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability to strengthen leadership and coordination of climate action across government.
“We are translating this commitment into practical action through our Nationally Determined Contributions, the National Green Finance Taxonomy and efforts to strengthen institutional coordination and mobilize climate finance,” he said.
Climate Prosperity Plan As Framework
Mr. Issifu Seidu said Ghana’s Climate Prosperity Plan, provides an important framework for aligning climate ambition with investment opportunities, while recognizing that access to affordable finance and debt sustainability must remain central to the development aspirations of climate-vulnerable countries.
FOCAC: From Commitments To Implementation
On Africa-China cooperation, the Minister said the theme speaks directly to opportunities presented by stronger cooperation.
Through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Action Plan for 2025 to 2027, China has committed to supporting thirty clean energy and green development projects across Africa.
“We welcome this commitment. However, the true measure of our partnership must be our ability to translate these commitments into bankable projects, mobilized finance, and tangible development outcomes,” he said.
With the current FOCAC Action Plan approaching its final year, he said the urgency to move from commitments to implementation cannot be overstated.
“This is where Country Platforms and Climate Prosperity Plans become particularly important. They provide the mechanisms for identifying nationally determined priorities, developing credible investment pipelines and connecting these opportunities with financing, technology and implementation partners.”
Green Belt And Road
For Ghana and other African countries, the Minister said the “Green Belt and Road Initiative”, presents an opportunity to accelerate investments in renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization and green technologies.
“Our collective task is to ensure that these investments respond to national development priorities, strengthen local capacities and deliver lasting benefits to our people.”
Focus On Practical Results
As the partnership between the CVF-V20 and the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition* advances, the Minister urged focus on practical results.
“Our success should be measured by the projects we developed, the investments we mobilized, the jobs we create, and the resilience we build for our communities.
“Above all, let us ensure that African countries remain at the center of defining and driving their own development pathways. That is how we turn our shared vision into meaningful cooperation, and our shared future into shared prosperity,” he concluded.
