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A Change Workshop on Thursday brought together civil society organisations (CSOs) in Accra to discuss the theme of “Advocating for a socially inclusive transition from fossil fuels to green and renewable energy”.
The workshop, supported by Friends of the Environment Netherlands (FoE-Netherlands) and organized by the AbibiNsroma Foundation in partnership with the FIDEP Foundation, aims to equip civil society organizations with the necessary tools and strategies to drive Ghana’s transition to renewable energy.
Central to the discussion was the important concept of a just transition, an equity-driven approach to ensure that marginalized communities are not left behind as Ghana transitions away from fossil fuels.
Amos Yesutanbul, Director of Research at the Frontier Institute for Development Planning (FIDEP), highlighted the purpose of the meeting: “This consultation workshop brings together civil society organizations to advance advocacy for a just energy transition. Our goal is to obtain funding from export credit agencies for this important transition, with the support of the AbibiNsroma Foundation and the FIDEP Foundation.”
Participants actively participated in interactive sessions, delving into the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the energy transition, gaining insights into advocacy strategies, rights-based tools and collaborative action plans.
350 In her keynote address, G-ROC National Coordinator Portia Adu Mensah urged the audience to understand the context of a just transition, particularly in the mining and oil sectors. “We must balance the needs of our country with the key factors that will influence this transition,” she stressed. “Ghana aims to meet future electricity demand of 380,000 GW while diversifying its energy mix to include at least 21 GW of renewable energy.”
The aim of the workshop was to deepen understanding of the just transition framework, provide civil society organizations with practical advocacy tools, and establish a framework for collective action. Important discussions revolved around the recognition of the potential negative impacts of energy transition projects on human rights and the environment, highlighting the need for support measures to mitigate these impacts.
Participants expressed both optimism and concern about Ghana’s ambitious renewable energy targets. The country wants renewable energy to account for at least 10% of its total electricity generation by 2030. While some participants were encouraged by the government’s commitment to renewable energy plans, others expressed doubts about the feasibility of achieving these targets given existing infrastructure and investment challenges.
“Achieving these goals will require not only commitment, but also significant investments in infrastructure and education,” noted one participant. “Civil society must continue to advocate for accountability in energy policies if these goals are to be truly achieved.”
During the workshop’s feedback session, Dr. Derek Sarfo-Yiadom, Climate Change and Ozone Division, Environmental Protection Agency, addressed attendees’ concerns about the feasibility of Ghana’s renewable energy targets and the financial resources required. “We recognised early on that achieving our targets would require strategic investments; relying on national capacity alone would not be enough,” Dr. Sarfo-Yiadom explained.
He confirmed that the government is actively seeking funding from various international climate sources to support its renewable energy plans. “We are currently seeking financial support from bilateral partnerships and climate funds to enhance our national financing capacity,” he said.
Dr. Sarfo-Yiadom highlighted the role of the Prosperity Plan in promoting a fair transition to renewable energy. He reminded participants: “A core principle of the Plan is to ensure a fair and socially inclusive transition. I understand your concerns, but we must recognize that our economy cannot sustain such a major shift without external assistance.”
His insights highlighted the importance of collaboration between government entities, civil society and international partners to effectively navigate the green energy path. This call for teamwork was echoed by Amos Yesutanbul, who stressed that “Governments must recognize that collaboration with civil society organizations is crucial. Civil society organizations play a key role in raising public awareness of their own activities and government initiatives.”
As Ghana works towards its goal of becoming a leader in renewable energy, workshops such as this highlight the need for concerted efforts to ensure no one is left behind in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
Active engagement of civil society organizations provides an important avenue for advocating for socially inclusive, environmentally sound, and economically viable policies, ultimately paving the way for a just energy transition.
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