Ghana has adopted a National Communiqué outlining shared priorities for strengthening climate and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies and regulations, in a move aimed at improving coordination and accelerating the country’s transition towards a sustainable economy.
The document was signed at the close of the Ghana National Climate and ESG Policy Summit 2026 (SUM26) in Accra, bringing together government institutions, regulators, financial institutions, businesses and local authorities to agree on a common framework for implementing climate and sustainability policies.
Held under the theme “Decoding Policy and Regulation for the Next Economy,” the summit was convened by the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability in collaboration with Intelligence Nature International (INI).
Seidu Issifu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, presided over the signing, while Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, co-signed the document. The Association of Ghana Industries and the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana signed as witnesses.
The communiqué sets out three major resolutions aimed at integrating climate and ESG considerations into national development planning and economic activities.
The first calls on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to incorporate climate and ESG considerations into their planning, budgeting and coordination processes, alongside sustained investment in their institutional capacity.
The second focuses on establishing a clear, phased timetable for climate and ESG disclosures, improving transparency and accountability in carbon markets, and mobilising blended finance to support bankable climate projects.
The third calls for a coordinated national response to emerging global market standards, including the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), alongside clearer green taxes, fees and levies.
It also highlights the strategic use of trade policies, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to position Ghanaian businesses to benefit from emerging opportunities in green trade.
Issifu said the adoption of the communiqué reflected a shared commitment among government institutions, regulators, local authorities, financial institutions and businesses to pursue a common direction on climate and ESG policies.
“Today, government, regulators, our Assemblies, the financial sector and business have agreed a common direction for climate and ESG policy in Ghana. Our task now is to deliver it, institution by institution, and to report back on progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, William K. Bannerman, Chief Executive Officer of Intelligence Nature International, said the communiqué would help translate the growing range of climate regulations into agreed national priorities and coordinated action.
He added that the next phase would focus on implementation, with stakeholders expected to report on progress at the next edition of the summit.
Bannerman noted that climate and ESG regulations were emerging simultaneously, making coordination among institutions essential to ensuring a consistent national approach.
The communiqué is expected to be circulated to relevant ministries, departments, agencies and local assemblies, with progress on its implementation set to be reviewed at the next summit.
The 2026 edition of the Ghana National Climate and ESG Policy Summit brought together around 200 senior delegates, including policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, business representatives and development partners.
The summit serves as a national platform for discussions between institutions responsible for developing climate and ESG regulations and the businesses and organisations required to comply with them.
