Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has called on world leaders for fair climate finance and firm global environmental rules.
Speaking during the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, the Minister said Ghana had come to the gathering “with conviction, shaped by science and guided by responsibility”.
He warned that “recent in-depth assessments” showed that “key planetary boundaries have been crossed”.
According to him, the environmental crisis is already affecting ordinary people across the country. “For us in Ghana, this reality is not distant. Fishermen watch the sea clean their shores. Farmers face failing rains. Families breathe polluted air.”
The Minister said Ghana expected global responsibility to match national ambition and also seeks financial systems that reflect the urgency of the climate crisis.
“We call on this assembly to match national ambition with global responsibility. We call for climate finance that is accessible, predictable, and fair.
He went on to insist on stronger cooperation between developed and developing countries, and on global pollution, he pressed for firm international rules.
“We call for a strong technological partnership that allows developing nations to act at the speed demanded by science. We call for strong global rules on pollution, especially plastics, chemicals, e-waste, and hazardous waste.”
Turning to the growing importance of natural resources, he said Ghana needed support to benefit fairly from global demand for minerals and further appealed for investment that strengthens vulnerable landscapes.
“We call for fairness in the critical minerals economy. Countries like Ghana must be supported to add value at home while protecting ecosystems and communities. We call for serious investment in resilience from coastal protection to forest conservation,” he said.
The Minister said that environmental pressures were already affecting daily life across Ghana. “For us in Ghana, this reality is not distant. Fishermen watch the sea clean their shores. Farmers face failing rains. Families breathe polluted air.”
The Minister said Ghana’s response “must rest on evidence, innovation and firm political will”. He explained that under President John Mahama, “science now encores national planning”, and the government is expanding renewable energy, improving efficiency through better data, and strengthening protection of land and water resources.
He also announced that Legislative Instrument 2462, which had matured into law, was withdrawn after scientific and public review.
“Scientific review and public consent made clear that it could not protect our forests and water bodies.
Ghana, therefore, chose the responsible path. The instrument was withdrawn and repealed. Science spoke, the people spoke, leadership responded,” he said.
The Minister revealed that key forest reserves had now been declared “red zones where mining cannot be permitted.”
He added that reclamation efforts were rebuilding damaged ecosystems, saying programmes were “restoring degraded soils, rebuilding river banks and bringing life back to damaged lands”. Ghana is also “strengthening coastal resilience through mangrove and lagoon restoration”.