By Edward Dankwah , GNA
Accra, Oct. 27, GNA – Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has called for Ghana’s green transition to begin at the district level, urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to integrate climate change and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their development plans and budgets.
He said local government institutions were at the frontline of Ghana’s climate response, as the effects of climate change, including flooding, drought, pressure on land and water resources, and threats to farming livelihoods, were most directly felt in communities.
The Minister was speaking at the Ghana National Climate and ESG Policy Summit 2026 (SUM26) in Accra, on the theme,”Decoding Policy and Regulation for the Next Economy,” which was organised by Intelligence Nature International (INI), under the auspices of the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability (OMCCS).
Mr. Ayariga said climate change was no longer a distant environmental concern but a present reality affecting livelihoods, food security, water resources, infrastructure, public health and economic stability.
He noted that environmental sustainability, social responsibility and good governance had become essential considerations for achieving sustainable development and strengthening national resilience.
Mr Ayariga said Ghana needed to rethink its development pathways, accelerate the transition towards a climate-resilient and resource-efficient economy, and ensure that economic progress translated into improved living conditions for all citizens.
He stressed that integrating ESG principles into national policies, institutional practices and private-sector operations was not merely a matter of compliance or corporate responsibility but a strategic imperative for promoting responsible investment, strengthening public accountability, protecting natural resources and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
He called for a shift from policy commitments to practical and measurable action through stronger coordination among government institutions, effective implementation of climate and environmental policies, increased mobilisation of sustainable finance, and meaningful partnerships with the private sector, development partners, academia and civil society.
The Minister said decentralising the green transition required climate and ESG considerations to be mainstreamed into the medium-term development plans and budgets of Assemblies.
He said the Assemblies also needed stronger capacity to plan, finance, implement and report on climate action, alongside improved coordination between national institutions and local government to ensure that policy, financing and implementation moved together.
He recognised traditional authorities as custodians of lands and natural resources, describing them as essential partners in advancing climate action at the community level.
Mr Ayariga said climate action and ESG implementation must be inclusive and responsive to the needs of vulnerable communities, women, young people and those whose livelihoods depended directly on the natural environment.
“A just and equitable transition must remain central to Ghana’s development agenda to ensure that the benefits of climate action were widely shared and no community was left behind,” he added.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, institutional capacity and reliable data in implementing climate and sustainability policies.
He called on public and private institutions to adopt credible sustainability practices, strengthen environmental and social risk management, and report their progress against clearly defined standards and measurable indicators.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing policies and partnerships that supported climate resilience, environmental protection, sustainable investment and responsible governance.
However, he said the scale and complexity of the challenges required a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, backed by sustained commitment, adequate financing and effective implementation.
Mr Ayariga urged participants to ensure that the summit went beyond discussions to produce concrete policy recommendations, institutional commitments and actionable strategies to strengthen Ghana’s response to climate change and accelerate ESG adoption across all sectors of the economy, including at the district level.
He encouraged participants to share practical experiences, identify implementation gaps and propose innovative solutions suited to Ghana’s national circumstances and broader sustainable development aspirations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade