EX TV GH People Matter
By: Christian SOWADA
With COP30 just weeks away, Brazil’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mariana Gonçalves Madeira, paid a high-level courtesy visit to Hon. Seidu Issifu, Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability. The meeting, held in Accra, brought together key figures including Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Micheal Akoto, EPA CEO Prof. Nana Klutse, and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Science and Technology, and Finance.
The visit comes as the world prepares to convene in Belém, Brazil (November 10–21, 2025) for COP30—a summit expected to accelerate climate action, unlock scaled financing, and protect people and nature with urgency and integrity.
Ambassador Madeira’s engagement signals Brazil’s commitment to elevating African priorities and supporting Ghana’s ambitious climate agenda. It also reflects confidence in President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, which has reset Ghana’s climate governance to emphasize impact, accountability, and value for money.
Discussions centered on deepening collaboration in adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development. Key areas included:
– Joint advocacy through the G77 and other coalitions.
– Forest protection partnerships between the Amazon and Gulf of Guinea.
– Deployment of low-carbon technologies tailored to African realities.
Brazil’s Embassy, now in its second year under Ambassador Madeira, reaffirmed its active role in Ghana’s environmental initiatives. With 34 embassies and 3 consulates across Africa, Brazil is strategically positioned to amplify African voices on the global stage.
Ambassador Madeira expressed strong interest in Ghana’s COP30 priorities—from implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to advancing forest governance. “This COP will be a different COP,” she emphasized, calling for outcomes that deliver real impact.
Minister Issifu echoed this urgency, stating that climate debt forgiveness is a matter of justice-not charity. He highlighted the disproportionate burden on countries like Ghana, which spend more on debt servicing than on climate resilience.
Ghana will advocate for a transformative finance package that includes:
– Debt relief and debt-for-Climate swaps.
– Simplified, faster access to climate finance with stronger country ownership.
– High-integrity carbon markets with verified co-benefits.
– Front-loaded adaptation finance for cities, coastal communities, farmers, and youth.
Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to ecosystem restoration, sustainable forest management, and nature-positive development. The two countries explored joint efforts to:
– Share lessons across tropical forest regions
– Mobilize finance for forest guardians
– Strengthen community-led conservation aligned with decent livelihoods
Recognizing the logistical hurdles that often hinder developing-country participation, Ghana will streamline its COP30 delegation. “Less pageantry, more purpose,” said Minister Issifu, emphasizing a lean, skilled team focused on negotiation and delivery.
To support this, a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been established to coordinate Ghana’s COP engagements. The TWG includes representatives from key ministries and agencies, tasked with aligning positions and translating outcomes into actionable policies and investments.
Ghana and Brazil are exploring joint side events that pair policy dialogue with investable projects. Proposed themes include:
– Nature-based solutions and South–South cooperation.
– Climate-smart agriculture and forest-positive cocoa.
– Urban adaptation strategies.
– Pro-poor carbon market frameworks.
These events aim to convene partners ready to commit resources, share expertise, and co-create long-term roadmaps.
As COP30 approaches, Ghana is determined to champion a just and ambitious climate agenda—one that delivers for fishers, farmers, traders, and students living the realities of climate change. With Brazil as host and Africa as a driving force, COP30 offers a rare convergence of place and purpose.
In the heart of the Amazon, the world will be reminded: climate action is not abstract—it’s the daily work of keeping rivers flowing, forests standing, cities livable, and economies fair. Ghana is ready to lead, not by asking, but by acting.
