Ghana is positioning itself as a hub for sustainable finance in Africa with the development of a National Environmental Sustainability Governance (ESG) and Climate Disclosure Roadmap, President John Dramani Mahama has revealed.
The framework, currently in design, is intended to standardise sustainability reporting across sectors, making Ghana more attractive to climate-conscious investors while curbing the risk of greenwashing.
Delivering a speech at the opening of a two-day summit on ESG reporting and sustainable growth in Accra, President Mahama said the roadmap would provide enterprises — from small firms to large corporations — with a uniform reporting structure that aligns with global best practices.
“Our National ESG and Climate Disclosure Roadmap will provide a common framework for reporting, guiding capital towards green and inclusive investments,” the President said.
The initiative is being developed in tandem with an Energy Transition Investment Pipeline and a Sustainable Finance Framework, which will channel both public and private finance into renewable energy, industrial decarbonisation, and resilience-focused projects.
The summit, organised by TSL Sustainability in partnership with the ministries of Energy and Green Transition, Environment, Science and Technology, and Lands and Natural Resources, is examining how ESG frameworks can unlock capital for Africa’s green transition.
Key discussion areas include sustainable finance, artisanal mining, climate change, and governance reforms — with participants pushing for innovative solutions that can secure inclusive and resilient growth.
President Mahama outlined Ghana’s broader transition agenda, built on three pillars: energy security, industrial decarbonisation, and inclusive development. He highlighted the country’s commitment to renewable energy expansion, nuclear power readiness, green hydrogen, and decentralised energy access, stressing that financing tools such as green bonds and sustainability-linked instruments would play a central role.
However, he emphasised that implementation of the roadmap would hinge on robust data infrastructure and stakeholder capacity building, which are critical to transparency and investor confidence.
Dr. Shelter Lotsu, CEO of TSL Sustainability Ghana, said the summit was expected to deliver three major outcomes: concrete policy recommendations, capacity-building strategies, and a strong case for mandatory ESG reporting.
“It is expected that Ghana will move beyond voluntary guidelines towards a mandatory ESG reporting regime that aligns with global standards, attracts capital and secures our competitive future,” Dr. Lotsu noted.
Tax expert Ms. Ayesha Bedwei Ibe of PwC added that Africa must not simply adapt to global trends but seize the opportunity to design more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies.
With the ESG Roadmap, Ghana aims to deepen its capital markets, formalise the informal sector, and green its value chains — positioning itself as a continental leader in sustainable finance and climate-friendly investment.
