By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Nov. 2, GNA – Ghana has called for a fair and inclusive approach to the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty, urging that the global transition to cleaner energy should consider the economic aspirations, energy security, and sovereign priorities of fossil fuel-producing countries.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the transition should be supported by adequate financing, technology transfer and economic diversification measures to ensure that developing countries were not left behind.
He made the call at a high-level breakfast meeting on the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative for Commonwealth Ministers of Foreign Affairs in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, on Monday.
Mr Ablakwa said climate change posed a grave threat to human security, livelihoods and sustainable development, particularly in small island developing states.
Ghana, he noted, recognised the need for collective climate action but stressed that national circumstances, including energy needs, development levels and historical contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, must inform the transition.
“For Ghana, oil and gas development has contributed to economic transformation through employment, foreign exchange earnings and public revenues,” he said.
He noted that petroleum receipts channelled through the Annual Budget Funding Amount had supported education, health, infrastructure and renewable energy development.
Natural gas from domestic fields also played a central role in electricity generation, while associated gas processing supported the supply of liquefied petroleum gas for cooking.
Mr Ablakwa said those contributions underscored the need for an orderly transition that guaranteed affordable and reliable energy for households and industry while allowing the country to expand cleaner energy sources.
He said prudently managed petroleum revenues could also finance renewable energy investments, strengthen the national energy mix and support industrial development.
The Minister noted that Ghana’s approach was informed by President John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda, which emphasised economic transformation, industrial diversification, energy security and sustainable development.
A diversified energy system, he added, could stimulate new enterprises and create jobs, while reliable electricity would support value addition in strategic minerals, including lithium and silicon, and the growth of emerging green industries.
However, he cautioned that petroleum investment remained sensitive to global energy transition policies, regulatory and fiscal conditions, and geopolitical uncertainty.
Inadequate emissions abatement could also restrict access to export markets, while carbon-related trade measures could undermine the competitiveness of energy-intensive manufactured products.
Mr Ablakwa said the proposed treaty, therefore, required careful consideration of the economic, financial and social implications for producing countries.
He emphasised that equity, climate justice and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances, should guide negotiations.
“A uniform timetable or pathway that ignores differences in national development, resources, energy infrastructure and fiscal capacity could undermine sustainable development and effective climate action,” he said.
“Climate justice demands not merely that we pursue a common destination, but that we recognise the unequal circumstances from which nations must undertake the journey.”
To support an equitable transition, the Minister proposed a dedicated and accessible financing mechanism for renewable and low-carbon projects, alongside debt restructuring or relief where appropriate, and grants and concessional loans from multilateral development banks.
He said such support should be complemented by technology transfer, technical assistance and investment mobilisation. He also called for assistance to retrofit or repurpose suitable oil and gas infrastructure for cleaner energy applications and to support economic diversification.
On the social implications, Mr Ablakwa said training, economic empowerment and alternative livelihood programmes were necessary to protect workers and communities dependent on petroleum activities.
He said the success of decarbonisation should be measured not only by emissions reductions but also by its contribution to decent work, resilient communities and inclusive prosperity.
The Minister further stressed that international cooperation should support, rather than displace, nationally determined energy strategies, adding that respect for energy sovereignty and predictable international support were essential to maintaining public confidence.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to multilateralism and the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and welcomed continued engagement on the proposed treaty.
He said discussions should examine the treaty’s potential legal and governance arrangements without prejudging the positions of participating countries.
Mr Ablakwa said the Commonwealth, which brought together climate-vulnerable states and energy-producing economies, was well positioned to promote understanding and develop approaches that balanced environmental ambition with economic viability and social equity.
“Ultimately, the global energy transition must be founded upon partnership rather than prescription, cooperation rather than coercion and shared responsibility rather than disproportionate sacrifice.
“A transition that leaves developing countries behind cannot be truly just,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]