Climate Change Minister calls on global investors to fund Africa’s clean energy shift
The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has urged global leaders and investors to scale up financing for Africa’s clean energy transition, describing it as both a climate necessity and an economic opportunity.
He made the call while speaking at the Climate Works Foundation and One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund (OPSWF) Network High-Level Roundtable during the Unstoppable Africa 2025 conference in New York.
The event, themed ‘Driving Investment into Clean Energy Projects in Africa,’ brought together global investors, development financiers and policymakers at the Marriott Marquis to deliberate on how to mobilise large-scale capital to accelerate the continent’s energy transition.
“Africa is blessed with abundant solar, wind, hydro and geothermal resources. But unlocking this potential requires more than goodwill, it requires capital, policy coherence and bold partnerships,” Mr Issifu stated.
Ghana’s Clean Energy Blueprint
The Minister outlined measures Ghana is implementing to attract and sustain clean energy investments.
He said the creation of the Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability was the highest political signal of the country’s commitment to climate action, ensuring cross-government coordination and accountability.
Other initiatives include the development of a Climate Change and Sustainability Hub, which will serve as a centre of excellence for climate finance mobilisation, policy innovation and research, while also providing investors with data, risk assessments and a pipeline of bankable projects.
Additionally, Ghana is streamlining permitting processes for renewable energy projects, expanding feed-in tariffs and net metering regulations, and updating its Renewable Energy Master Plan in alignment with the 24-Hour Economy and green industrialisation agenda.
To incentivise private capital, the government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, is rolling out green tax incentives, duty exemptions and blended finance facilities.
Partnerships with development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds and private developers are also being advanced to deliver utility-scale solar projects, battery storage and rural mini-grids.
A Call for Scaled-Up Capital
Mr Issifu appealed to global investors and sovereign wealth funds to complement Africa’s policy reforms with substantial financing.
“We must bridge ambition and capital. De-risking projects, lowering the cost of finance and creating investment-grade environments are key to unlocking the trillions needed for Africa’s clean energy future,” he said.
Mr Issifu called for expanded blended finance facilities to mitigate currency, policy and credit risks, technical assistance to strengthen project preparation and support for local manufacturing of clean energy components such as solar panels, batteries and green hydrogen technologies.
Energy as a Growth Driver
Mr Issifu reminded participants that the clean energy transition extends beyond climate considerations, serving as a driver of Africa’s socio-economic development.
“Africa’s clean energy transition is our pathway to industrial transformation, job creation and economic competitiveness. Ghana is ready with the policies, the vision and the institutional frameworks. Now is the time to match this enabling environment with bold, patient capital that can turn plans into power, literally,” he emphasised.
