By Albert Oppong Ansah
Accra, Oct. 24, GNA – The Government has launched a National Roster of Experts on Climate Negotiations to enhance Ghana’s representation in global climate diplomacy.
The initiative, led by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) with support from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and development partners, aims to transition Ghana’s climate negotiation framework from ad-hoc participation to a structured, technically grounded system.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, described the roster as a “significant milestone” in Ghana’s efforts to deepen its presence and influence in international climate negotiations.
She said the initiative would ensure that Ghana’s priorities, ranging from adaptation financing to loss and damage, mitigation, and technology transfer, are championed by negotiators who are both technically competent and diplomatically prepared.
“For Ghana, climate negotiation is not just an environmental exercise, it is a matter of national development, national security and justice. We need negotiators who understand both the science and the politics, the data and the diplomacy,” she stated.
Prof. Klutse noted that Ghana had long been active in global climate forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, and COP negotiations.
However, she said the country had often faced limitations due to a small pool of trained negotiators across diverse thematic areas.
Prof. Klutse said the EPA designed the roster as a “living platform” to connect Ghanaian negotiators to continuous learning opportunities, including simulation exercises, technical briefings, and COP preparatory sessions.
“The initiative arrives with the implementation of Article 6, a new climate finance framework, and the post-global stocktake era shaping the next decade of climate action. To secure fair outcomes for Ghana, we must be technically, institutionally and diplomatically ready,” she added.
Prof. Klutse expressed optimism that Ghana’s model could be replicated across Africa to strengthen the continent’s voice in global climate governance.
She reaffirmed the EPA’s commitment to supporting and expanding the roster to ensure Ghana negotiates with clarity, confidence, and credibility.
Madam Suweibatu Adam, Chief Director at MEST, said climate negotiations had become increasingly complex, touching every sector of the economy.
She stressed the need for a coordinated pool of skilled negotiators and technical experts to represent Ghana’s interests effectively.
“The Roster provides a structured national mechanism for identifying, organizing, and supporting qualified experts to participate in international, regional, and national climate processes,” she said.
“In short, it ensures that Ghana speaks with one informed, unified, and credible voice on the global stage,” she added.
Madam Adam said the roster complements the National Climate Negotiators Development Programme, which seeks to mentor and train the next generation of Ghanaian negotiators.
She noted that as the global community prepares for COP30 in Brazil, the initiative is timely and positions Ghana to participate with coherence, capacity, and confidence in advancing national and collective climate ambitions.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey