Hon. Paul A. Twum Barimah, former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East
Hon. Paul Twum-Barimah, former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East and a leading advocate for sustainable energy and climate policy, has called for the establishment of a National Youth Green Finance Facility in Ghana to unlock capital for youth-led green enterprises.
Speaking at the African Youth Conference on Natural Resource and Environmental Governance (AYC-NREG 2025) in Accra, the lawmaker addressed over 2,000 delegates, including youth leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials, civil society actors, development partners, and financiers. He emphasised the urgent need to address youth unemployment while tackling environmental degradation by equipping young Ghanaians to lead in the green economy.
“We cannot continue to allow Ghana’s youth to remain on the sidelines of the energy transition and climate action. By establishing a National Youth Green Finance Facility, we will de-risk youth ventures, open access to affordable capital, and position young entrepreneurs as the vanguard of our sustainable future,” he said.
Hon. Twum-Barimah highlighted that Ghana’s wealth in green minerals, renewable energy potential, and agribusiness opportunities remains largely untapped due to limited access to finance.
Proposal
He proposed that the Facility should provide concessional loans, grants, and guarantees specifically designed for youth-led enterprises. He also emphasised the need for the facility to partner with local banks and international climate finance institutions, including the Green Climate Fund and the African Development Bank.
He indicated that it should prioritise inclusive financing strategies, deliberately supporting young women, rural entrepreneurs, and persons with disabilities.
He further stressed that it should help build a strong pipeline of investment-ready green businesses contributing to Ghana’s development priorities and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
He called on financial institutions, private investors, and development partners to collaborate with government. He stressed that “green finance is not just about climate action; it is about jobs, innovation, and dignity for Ghana’s youth. The Facility will ensure our young people are not just beneficiaries of policy but drivers of sustainable growth.”
The AYC-NREG 2025, held under the theme “Transforming Africa’s Natural Resource Governance Through Youth-Led Solutions”, brings together young leaders from across Africa to explore pathways for inclusive, sustainable, and innovative natural resource governance.
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