Ghana's Vice-President Calls for Climate Action at ECOWAS

During the ECOWAS Parliament's second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar and Second Extraordinary Session in Accra, Ghana's Vice-President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, called for West African governments to move beyond climate policy commitments to adequately funded programs and stronger legislation. She emphasized the need for coordinated regional responses to tackle environmental degradation, population displacement, and insecurity.

Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the interconnected nature of these challenges, stating that environmental stress in one area affects communities elsewhere. She advocated for stronger early-warning systems, improved support for displaced communities, and increased investment in resilient agriculture and clean energy.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, echoed these sentiments, urging lawmakers to ensure climate commitments are reflected in legislation and budgets. Both leaders stressed the importance of moving from commitments to practical measures to protect communities and mitigate climate-related risks.