Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA
Accra, May 1, GNA – Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), has advised African leaders to choose a development pathway that combines economic transformation with climate action.
“Our message must be clear: Africa should not be asked to choose between industrialisation and climate ambition. We need green industrialisation, a model that promotes cleaner, more resilient and job-rich growth,” Dr Amoah said.
He explained that the continent, though least responsible for climate change, remained among the hardest hit by its impacts.
Nana Dr Amoah was speaking at a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) side event during the 12th session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 12 in Kenya.
The forum, which reviewed progress on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG-9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), also focused on goals related to water, energy, sustainable cities and global partnerships.
The AGN Chair emphasised the need to place industrialisation at the centre of global climate negotiations, noting that Africa was not transitioning from a high-emission industrial base but was still building its industries while expanding energy access.
“Every climate outcome should preserve Africa’s development space, protect equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, and strengthen support in terms of finance and technology,” he said.
On global trade measures, Nana Dr Amoah warned that policies such as carbon border adjustments could undermine Africa’s export competitiveness if not fairly designed.
He called for improved domestic capacity, including access to affordable clean energy, stronger emissions data systems, and better standards and certification frameworks.
At the international level, Dr Amoah urged fairness, stressing that climate-related trade rules should not penalise developing economies without adequate support.
He also highlighted Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals as a strategic opportunity to drive industrialisation, arguing that the continent must move beyond raw material exports to value addition through processing, manufacturing and recycling.
“The real prize is not only extraction, but the jobs and industries built across the value chain,” he said, calling for deeper technology transfer, joint research and local manufacturing capacity,” Nana Dr Amoah said.
He urged African countries to align policies across sectors such as energy, industry, finance and climate, and to develop bankable project pipelines in areas like agro-processing, clean energy technologies and construction materials.
On financing, the AGN Chair reiterated the need for predictable grant-based funding for adaptation and highly concessional finance for mitigation and industrial transformation, alongside stronger accountability mechanisms.
“Technology transfer must help Africa to manufacture, not merely import,” he noted, adding that a just transition should extend beyond resource extraction to include jobs, skills and industrial growth.
Nana Dr Amoah indicated that Africa’s climate ambition would be strongest when anchored in industrialisation, competitiveness, energy access and employment creation.
“A just transition for Africa is not deindustrialisation. It is green industrialisation,” he said, urging global partners to support a future where Africa adds value to its resources and participates fairly in the global climate economy,” he said.
The event brought together policymakers, development partners and experts to discuss pathways for aligning climate action with sustainable development across the continent.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Albert Oppong-Ansah