Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
_Accra, 15 May 2026_ — Ghana today formally presented its updated 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), laying out a 10-year, multi-billion-dollar roadmap to accelerate the country’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy through 2035.
Senior government officials and development partners gathered at the Accra City Hotel for a consultative workshop where Suweibatu Adam, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MEST), outlined the new framework on behalf of the ministry.
Ghana’s second revision under the Paris Agreement — marks a shift from standalone projects to an integrated national strategy built around five pillars:
According to Madam Suweibatu Adam, the first pillar focuses on a comprehensive national energy transition, including the development of 1,000 megawatts of clean nuclear baseload power, more than 1,600 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, green hydrogen development and clean cooking solutions.
The second pillar seeks to modernise sustainable transport and infrastructure through a $4.5 billion railway expansion project, the development of an inner-city light rail system in Accra and the deployment of about 1.225 million electric vehicles nationwide.
Madam Adam said the third pillar would drive the development of a circular economy for industry and waste management by transforming sectors such as steel and cement while promoting advanced recycling, waste-to-energy biodigesters and methane capture systems at engineered landfill sites.
Plans for large-scale baseload clean energy, including nuclear, alongside expanded renewable capacity, green hydrogen, and clean cooking solutions to improve public health and energy access.
Nature-Based Solutions and Carbon Removal: Building on the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ programme, which has already generated results-based payments, and exploring technologies like biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage.
National Adaptation and Resilience: A foundational framework covering climate-resilient water infrastructure, a Blue Economy and coastal resilience programme for Ghana’s 550 km coastline, and a climate-resilient health system.
Implementing the plan requires roughly US$53.3 billion in investment, about US$19.8 billion per year, a figure Chief Director Adam described as an “investment prospectus” rather than a burden.
Chief Director stressed that domestic resources alone cannot meet the financing gap and called on bilateral, multilateral and private partners for technical and financial support.
Ghana committed to establishing robust monitoring, reporting and verification systems to ensure accountability and results. The government also pledged to deploy resources equitably, with a focus on gender- and youth-responsive outcomes and inclusion of vulnerable communities.
Next steps include circulating detailed programme sheets and investment briefs for each pillar to development partners, followed by bilateral consultations to advance project design and funding discussions.
The NDC update positions Ghana to pursue ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals while promoting job creation, public health benefits and a more competitive, decarbonised industrial base. Observers say the test will be translating the framework into bankable projects and securing the international finance and technical assistance required for implementation.
For more information, the government said programme briefs will be shared with partners and bilateral consultations will be held through the NDC team.
