
Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, MP for Oforikrom / Chairperson of Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science & Technology
By Bright Philip Donkor
The Chairperson of Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, has described the manifesto of the NPP as the “most green” in Ghana’s political landscape, with a strong emphasis on climate financing.
Dr. Marfo, who is the lawmaker of Oforikrom constituency, said this during a National Youth Conference on Climate Change Public Lecture held at Sunlodge Hotel, Accra. It was organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) on the theme, “Empowering Climate Action Through Ambition, Implementation and Inclusivity”.
Dr. Marfo noted that the NPP manifesto stood out due to its clear focus on environmental issues, particularly its plans to mobilize climate finance as a pipeline for attracting green funding to support sustainable development in the country. “The NPP manifesto speaks strongly to the issue of the environment, and it is very clear that climate finance will be key in attracting green funding,” he said.
NPP’s commitment
He emphasised that the creation of a Climate Finance Division by the Ministry of Finance, under the current NPP government, demonstrated the party’s commitment to integrating climate finance into the country’s development finance portfolio.
According to him, this is a strategic step towards ensuring that Ghana is able to tap into international green finance opportunities, which are vital for sustainable development.
Dr. Marfo underscored the fact that under the leadership of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP is determined to leverage green financing to promote sustainable development, particularly as the world transitions to low-carbon and greener economies.
“Climate change presents unique opportunities for countries to transition to greener economies, and the NPP under Dr. Bawumia is committed to leveraging these opportunities to benefit Ghana,” Dr. Marfo added.
He reiterated that the creation of the Climate Finance Division was a strategic move that underscored the government’s vision to integrate climate finance into Ghana’s broader development finance portfolio. This, he said, positiond the country to tap into global financial inflows that can support green growth initiatives, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, and climate adaptation infrastructure.
G-CPP
Dr. Marfo said, under a Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia presidency, the NPP would prioritize Ghana’s Climate Prosperity Plan (G-CPP), which includes exploring innovative climate financing mechanisms and carbon trading. He stated that this approach aimed to finance critical sectors, such as agriculture and mining, while addressing climate vulnerabilities in affected communities.
He further explained that Ghana was already a recognized player in global climate response efforts, which gave the country a unique opportunity to leverage the growing climate finance landscape. The NPP, he said, would use its annual allocation from the Green Climate Fund’s Readiness Fund to build institutional capacity, as well as expand on bilateral agreements with countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Singapore to support carbon credit initiatives.
Dr. Marfo expressed confidence that a resilient, business-friendly economy focused on green finance would create job opportunities and accelerate Ghana’s transition to a low-carbon economy. He called on the private sector to take advantage of climate finance opportunities offered by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund, and the Adaptation Fund.
United front among youth
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) in charge of programmes and operations, Nelson Owusu Ansah, said the climate change conference was an essential platform to raise awareness and galvanize youth-led actions in the fight against climate change.
According to him, the conference sought to bring together various youth-led organizations, youth focus groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs) within the climate change ecosystem in Ghana. He emphasised that the primary goal was to establish a unified strategy that would empower young people to actively champion climate action in the country.
He mentioned that one of the key challenges was the issue of funding and the political will necessary to drive climate action initiatives. He acknowledged that securing resources was a significant hurdle for many youth groups working on climate-related projects, noting that the lack of a coordinated effort had limited their ability to attract the necessary funding.
He further noted that the conference would play a pivotal role in addressing this issue by creating a platform for all youth groups to unite under a single umbrella. The National Youth Authority, he said, would coordinate this collective effort, providing an avenue for youth-led organizations to access funding opportunities not only at the national level but also from global sources.
Critical for development
Dr. Daniel Benefoh, Acting Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has touched on the critical intersection between climate change and national development.
He stressed that climate change is now at the forefront of development concerns and should be a key consideration for policymakers, businesses, and citizens alike. He reiterated that creating widespread awareness and empowering the youth were essential steps in addressing the ongoing climate crisis.
