Ghana’s Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (NC4) - Foreword, Preface and Overview

Sep 12, 2026

Ghana’s Fourth National Communication (NC4) to the UNFCCC presents updated information on national progress and policies addressing climate change, with emphasis on coordinated, holistic integration of climate actions into sustainable development programmes. The foreword highlights impacts on development gains, links climate policy to medium-term planning, and describes scaling up implementation of nationally determined contributions. The report outlines focus areas including renewable energy, deforestation reduction, clean cooking, low-carbon electricity, resilience building and sea defence infrastructure, supported by flagship green industrialisation initiatives and calls for strengthened international climate finance access.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages378

Reading Time2 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Purpose and key messages

Preface

Preparation and collaboration

Report components and chapter structure

Ghana’s Fourth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change White Sand Beach Resort, Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana. Credit: [https://images.app.goo.gl/jVcoWTKfAEML2q4k6](https://images.app.goo.gl/jVcoWTKfAEML2q4k6) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) With kind support from National Climate Change Report, 2020 The document is available for download on EPA website [address www.epa.gov.gh](address www.epa.gov.gh) [For further information](For further information), please contact: Director of Environment MESTI P. O. Box M232 Ministries-Accra Telephone: 0302-666049 Email: [info@mesti.gov.gh](info@mesti.gov.gh) Executive Director EPA P. O. Box M326 Ministries-Accra Telephone: 0302-664697 Email: [info@epa.gov.gh](info@epa.gov.gh) Except for commercial use, all relevant sections of, or information from this report can be reproduced for use as reference material or any related purposes provided the source is appropriately cited Foreword I present Ghana’s Fourth National Communication (NC4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The NC4 outlines the latest information on Ghana’s progress at addressing climate change through specific policies. The potential disruptive effects of climate change on Ghana is not markedly different from the rest of Africa. Climate change threatens to erode the development gains Ghana has made in the past and hampers our ability to accomplish the sustainable development aspirations we have envisaged for ourselves. Despite the pressing economic challenges that confront us, Ghana has not relented on taking bold steps to deal with climate change, and I call on the international community to show greater commitment to fighting climate change. We hold the view that acting on climate change must not be done in isolation. It must be a well-coordinated and embrace a holistic governmental strategy that integrates climate actions into national sustainable development programmes. That is why Ghana’s climate policy is aligned with the latest medium-term national development plan. In the last decade, Ghana’s climate change efforts have focussed on putting in place, suitable policy conditions to enable Ghana to increase its efforts on tangible climate actions. In this regard, Ghana published its national climate change policy in 2012, low carbon development strategy in 2015, ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 and has already started implementing the measures in the nationally determined contributions. The focus is now on scaling-up the implementation of our climate actions. We are already implementing climate change programmes aimed at promoting renewable energy, lowering deforestation, supporting the adoption of clean cooking, pursuing low carbon electricity generation, building resilience in the savannah dryland and investing in sea defence infrastructure. Investing in these climate actions, have direct developmental benefits as well as strong climate objectives. We have also introduced significant policy interventions that have development and climate protection imperatives. Our flagship programmes on planting for food and jobs, one-village-one-dam, and the one-district-one-factory, are all geared towards boosting green industrialisation and rural development as well as building resilience to the impacts of climate change. These policy initiatives are already contributing positive results to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as resilience and low carbon development objectives. Admittedly, we need to do more than if we are to achieve the goals outlined in the nationally determined contributions. In conclusion, I wish to emphasise that as we strive to do our bit to halt climate change at the national level, there is the need for more concrete efforts at the international level. Consequently, I call for reforms at the international level to streamline access to climate finance to comp

FAQs

What is the purpose of Ghana’s Fourth National Communication (NC4) to the UNFCCC?

It provides the latest information on Ghana’s progress in addressing climate change through specific policies, aligned with UNFCCC reporting requirements.

How is climate action intended to be implemented in Ghana according to the foreword?

Climate action should be integrated into national sustainable development programmes through coordinated, holistic government strategy, linked to the medium-term development plan.

Which climate action areas and programmes are highlighted in the NC4 overview?

The text highlights programmes such as renewable energy promotion, deforestation lowering, clean cooking adoption, low carbon electricity generation, resilience building in savannah drylands, sea defence infrastructure, and flagship initiatives like planting for food and jobs, one-village-one-dam, and one-district-one-factory.

Sep 12, 2026

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