Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has disclosed that the proposed Lifeline Fund is targeting an initial $500 million to help climate-vulnerable countries respond to disasters and other climate-related shocks.

Speaking to GhanaWeb Business on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand on October 13, 2026, Issifu said the fund would be expanded through contributions from strategic investors and development partners.

He explained that climate-related disasters often reverse development gains and force governments to redirect limited public funds towards emergency response efforts.

“Anytime climate shocks hit, they reverse our development process. Governments have to look for money, very scarce resources, to be able to intervene, and this has been a problem,” he said.

According to Issifu, the proposed fund would give vulnerable countries quicker access to financing to respond to climate shocks without placing additional pressure on already stretched public budgets.

“We are looking at the sum of about $500 million to start with, which will be scaled up by other strategic investors and partners,” he added.

He said the initiative would be led by countries in the Global South, with support from international partners.

Issifu also said Ghana was expected to demonstrate leadership by contributing to the fund, adding that the country's participation could encourage other partners to support the initiative.

Touching on access to climate finance, the minister called for countries undergoing debt restructuring to remain eligible for funding to address climate-related challenges.

He argued that countries should not be shut out of climate financing because they were taking difficult economic measures to manage their debts.

Issifu credited Barbados with initiating the process towards establishing the fund.

Meanwhile, discussions are expected to continue as stakeholders work to mobilise the proposed initial capital and attract additional partners.



Story by Mawuli Ahorlumegah, reporting from the 2026 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand, Bangkok