In a remarkable demonstration of international partnership and shared climate ambition, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, paid a courtesy luncheon visit to His Excellency Park Kyongsig, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ghana.
The high-level meeting, held at the Korean Embassy in Accra, aimed to formally introduce the newly established ministerial office and lay the groundwork for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the area of climate change, sustainability, and green development.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties in a New Climate Era
The meeting underscored Ghana’s commitment to multilateral collaboration and climate diplomacy. It marked an important step in strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and Korea, particularly in exploring economic cooperation for climate sustainability and access to the Green Climate Fund.
The minister expressed profound appreciation for Korea’s longstanding support to Ghana, particularly through KOICA and other development programs.
The minister emphasised the strategic vision behind the creation of his office by President John Dramani Mahama, noting its cross-sectoral mandate to coordinate Ghana’s national response to climate change and drive green economic transformation with strong private sector involvement.
Ghana’s Climate Vision and Agenda
Key highlights of the minister’s briefing included:
Establishment of a National Technical Working Committee with representation from all ministries to streamline climate actions and ensure policy coherence.
Ghana’s Energy Transition Plans, including scaling up solar rooftop systems across public institutions to reduce the country’s energy debt.
Plans to establish a Climate and Sustainability Hub to serve as a one-stop center for research, data, financing, and innovation.
A vision to create Climate and Sustainability Units in all government institutions, including Ministries, Departments, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Korea’s Commitment to Partnership and Innovation
Ambassador Park Kyongsig reaffirmed the Republic of Korea’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s climate agenda.
He highlighted areas of progress in Korea’s own sustainability journey, including the deployment of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and reforestation programs to combat desertification.
He also noted Korea’s readiness to:
Support Ghana in scaling carbon credit production for export.
Collaborate on awareness campaigns for clean cooking solutions in rural communities.
Facilitate technical exchanges, degree programs, and short-term trainings in Korea for staff at the Minister’s Office, focused on green growth, policy, and innovation.
Engage in joint economic forums and investment promotion initiatives, particularly in green energy and climate-resilient development.
The ambassador also mentioned the existence of a dedicated foundation in Korea designed to attract private investment to countries like Ghana, with an interest in sustainability and development financing.
Advancing Joint Climate Action
Both parties welcomed the idea of initiating a strategic partnership with a focus on institutional capacity building, climate change mitigation and adaptation programs, and technical cooperation.
Notably, the Korean Embassy expressed willingness to offer financial and technical support to enable the minister’s office to function effectively and deliver on its national and international climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement.
The ninister further proposed the Ghana-Korea Climate Business Forum, a summit that will convene private sector actors from both countries to explore investment opportunities in green infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and circular economy projects.
The ambassador warmly welcomed the proposal, promising to facilitate the involvement of Korean businesses and stakeholders.
Religion and Governance in Climate Policy
In a unique cultural note, the Seidu Issifu acknowledged the influential role religion plays in Ghana’s governance and citizen engagement.
He reaffirmed the office’s intention to work closely with the Attorney General’s Department to ensure all climate adaptation proposals are compliant with legal and policy standards.
Agreed Next Steps
The two leaders agreed on concrete follow-up actions, including:
The embassy will notify the Minister’s Office of all upcoming training opportunities.
The minister’s office will submit specific proposals for joint projects in areas such as solar energy and capacity development.
Both parties will collaborate on organizing the proposed Ghana-Korea Climate Business Forum.
Plans will be developed for pilot projects in afforestation, clean energy, and climate-resilient farming across Ghana.
This high-level meeting represents a milestone in Ghana-Korea relations and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to global climate goals.
Through sustained dialogue, technical cooperation, and strategic investment, both countries aim to build a greener, more resilient future for their people and the planet.
