President John Dramani Mahama has urged developed nations to deliver on their climate finance promises through predictable grants rather than loans that worsen debt in vulnerable countries.
Addressing the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, he said climate change is a test of global equity, stressing that Africa, which accounts for less than 4% of global emissions, suffers disproportionately from its impacts.
Citing Ghana’s deadly floods on June 29, when over 160mm of rain fell on seven coastal regions in 24 hours, killing 39 people and leaving one missing,
President John Dramani Mahama said vulnerable nations need urgent support. He pointed to erratic rainfall, coastal erosion, desertification, melting glaciers, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and hurricanes as signs of an escalating crisis.
“Climate justice demands that developed nations fulfil their long-overdue financial commitments,” he said.
“Mitigation support must be operationalised with predictable, non-debt-creating grants, not loans that further indebt fragile economies.”
President Dramani Mahama also linked climate resilience to health security, calling for regional vaccine manufacturing, stronger epidemic surveillance and investment in public health infrastructure in the Global South, in line with the Accra Reset.
