Seidu Issifu seeks bankable status for China’s 30 clean energy projects

Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has urged international stakeholders to transition China’s pledge of 30 clean energy projects in Africa from high-level commitments into bankable, shovel-ready initiatives. Speaking at the COP31 summit in Antalya, Türkiye, Issifu emphasized that while the promises made under the Beijing Action Plan are significant, their success depends on the mobilization of finance and the creation of structures that can attract private-sector investment.

The Minister highlighted the critical role of the Vulnerable Twenty (CVF-V20) Group, which has entered into a memorandum of understanding with China to accelerate investments in renewable energy and sustainable technology. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between political will and project implementation. Issifu noted that these efforts are essential for improving green industrial capacity and expanding electricity access across the continent, particularly by leveraging the declining costs of solar energy technology to promote development.

To achieve these goals, Issifu called for the use of Country Platforms to coordinate climate finance and ensure that the projects deliver practical, measurable benefits to local economies. He argued that the focus must remain on building climate resilience while fostering economic growth through tangible outcomes. By turning these commitments into bankable projects, Ghana and its African partners aim to secure a more sustainable energy future that balances developmental needs with global environmental targets.