Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for urgent global action on climate justice, stressing the need for fairness, equity, and accountability in tackling the crisis.
She made the appeal during a bilateral meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition.
Mr. Hart opened the session by extending condolences over the recent helicopter crash in Ghana that claimed the lives of eight citizens, including two cabinet ministers. The Vice President expressed gratitude, acknowledging the nation’s grief.
Turning to climate issues, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that climate change knows no borders yet disproportionately affects nations least responsible for its causes.
“Rising sea levels are threatening small islands and coastal communities, triggering migration and food insecurity,” she warned.
She urged the UN to amplify the voices of vulnerable nations and called for a Pan-African strategy built on shared solutions, integrated adaptation, and collective resilience.
Highlighting Ghana’s leadership, she pointed to initiatives such as the floating solar panels at the Bui Dam and the role of academic institutions like the University of Energy and Natural Resources in preparing citizens to support climate policies.
The Vice President also linked climate action to wider development challenges, noting that unsustainable debt burdens divert resources from education, healthcare, and adaptation efforts.
“We need a holistic approach to climate, debt, and development challenges,” she stressed. “Fairness, equity, and accountability must guide global action if we are to achieve just and lasting solutions.”
