Climate Activists and Civil Society Organizations in Ghana are demanding greater transparency and accountability in the use of funds received from Ghana’s Development Partners, for Climate Action.

The call comes as Ghana successfully receives $4,862,280, the first of four tranches released by the World Bank as credits for Ghana’s successful reduction of carbon emissions by some 972,456 tons between June and December 2019.

Lecturer of Climate Change Communications with the University of Professional Studies Dr. Martin Segtub described the transfers as insufficient funds requiring prudence, to put them to optimal benefit of the worst affected by climate change.

Empathizing with poorer countries who are the worst affected by the carbon emissions of the global north, he indicated, “We don’t have sufficient amounts of the money that we really deserve… But there is an aspect that we also need to be mindful about and it is how we can put the money to effective use in addressing the issues of sustainable development which is at the heart of climate mitigation and adaptation.”

“These committed funds are highly insufficient considering how much damage the developed world has caused to our global community. It is not just like a gift to a poor country at the mercy of the rich. It is something that we deserve because we suffer the brunt of their actions,” Dr Sigtub added.

Speaking to reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador on the sidelines of a three day climate change reporting training workshop held by Penplusbytes and the DW Academie; he challenged the media to have their antennas high in demanding transparency.

“You must be tracking the full facts of the disbursements, persons responsible for budgetary allocations and the application of the funds to its rightful use,” he emphasized.

Drawings from the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank opens a new page for leveraging results-based payments for carbon credits; as a huge bank of alternative financing especially for developing countries struggling to attract conventional donor funds and concessional facilities .

Ghana continues to see huge financial inflows as it embarks on a number of nature led climate mitigation measures through afforestation; climate friendly agriculture and the fight against illegal chain saw lumbering and harmful small scale mining.

It is estimated that Ghana could receive as much as $50 million as carbon credits under the World Bank Program if she sustained efforts at reducing her carbon emissions by some 10 million tons by the year 2025.

Penplusbytes

Good Governance and Accountability oriented Civil Society Organization Penplusbytes would prefer such funds are properly targeted at climate and adaptation and mitigation efforts to build more resilience to the impact and effects of climate change.

“In Ghana, most of our problems are flood prone areas and areas where there are bush fires because of intense heat. How is climate change affecting livelihoods and ultimately the economies of those areas and how do these funds go to support them?” Executive Director, Penplusbytes Jerry Sam quizzed.

Jerry shared his passion for some allocations to be spent on researching into food chains and indigenous occupations in unraveling how best Ghana’s research institutions could develop new varieties and alternative jobs that ensured food security and livelihoods.

Climate Action Funds:

The country has already benefitted from a $3 million grant under the World Bank’s Enhancing Access to Benefits by Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) program, disbursed by the World Bank to build the capacities of local communities and secondary cities affected by climate change.

In June 2022 the World Bank approved an additional financing of $145 million International Development Association (IDA) credit for the Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program.

The targets of the disbursement included supporting Ghana develop sustainable climate adaptation and mitigation measures in managing its fast growing urban centers and secondary cities carved out of the country’s six newly created regions.

Ghana’s Climate Effort.

It is projected that Ghana will continue to leverage the global carbon credit pool as the country aggressively addresses red plus emissions from deforestation through its Green Ghana tree planting drive; the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI); the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

The Government of Ghana has also demonstrated promise in exploring potentials for increasing the share of cleaner renewable energy in its energy mix but has yet to show tangible progress in its Bus Rapid Transit System designed to provide an efficient transportation system in its major cities.

By: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador.