Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, participated in the African Ministers Meeting with the African Group of Negotiators on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

During the session, the minister highlighted priority concerns for Africa, emphasising the need for a coherent, fair, and well supported transition under the Paris Agreement.

He stressed that many developing countries are still establishing the institutional and technical structures required to fully implement Article 6. In this regard, he called for additional transition time for the Adaptation Fund, ensuring that no country is disadvantaged due to capacity constraints.

The minister further underscored the need for stronger support for developing countries, noting that Africa must not repeat the experience of falling behind during the Clean Development Mechanism era. He urged the AGN to collectively advocate for safeguards that prevent similar inequities.

On unilateral measures, he emphasised the importance of bringing these issues squarely into the negotiations, and called for clarity on the reasons behind resistance to their inclusion, given their direct impact on African economies.

Addressing discussions on the shift toward domestic budget contributions as indicators for support, the minister argued that African countries are already demonstrating commitment through national climate spending. He stressed, however, that compliance must remain aligned with Article 9.2 of the Paris Agreement, which requires developed countries to take the lead in providing climate finance.

The minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to Africa’s united position and called for strengthened coordination within the AGN to secure outcomes that reflect the continent’s priorities and development realities.