Ghana’s forthcoming update of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) presents a pivotal opportunity to align ambitious climate goals with inclusive and equitable socio-economic development. Building on the National Energy Transition Framework (2022–2070) and lessons from NDC 2.0, this policy brief emphasizes the importance of embedding Just Transition principles at the core of climate action. Doing so will not only ensure fairness and social protection but also strengthen Ghana’s ability to achieve its climate ambitions in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target.
The implementation of NDC 2.0 (2021–2025) demonstrated both progress and critical gaps. Despite the outlined 47 mitigation and adaptation measures aimed at reducing 64 MtCO₂e by 2030, challenges persist, including limited social impact tracking, weak private sector and community involvement, underrepresentation of high-emission sectors such as transition minerals and industrial decarbonization, and a mismatch between training programs and the emerging green job market. These shortcomings underscore the need for NDC 3.0 to function not only as a climate action plan but also as an inclusive development framework that ensures no one is left behind.
In the national multi-stakeholder dialogue, the key highlight was opportunities for improvement include enhancing skills development to align with industry needs and ensuring inclusion of various communities, including those in the informal sector, which comprises nearly 80 percent of Ghana’s labor force. The exclusion of this sector poses a barrier to widespread participation in the green transition. Additionally, communities in mineral transition zones, vital for clean energy development, need focused attention. Gender mainstreaming and youth participation present both challenges and significant opportunities for the green transition. These issues are exacerbated by a considerable financing gap, with an estimated USD 9 to 9.5 billion still needed to fully implement Ghana’s climate commitments.
NDC 3.0, therefore, represents a transformative opportunity for Ghana to merge climate ambition with inclusive development. By embedding Just Transition as a guiding principle, Ghana can strengthen its climate resilience, build a green and future-ready economy, and ensure that no community or group is excluded from the benefits of the transition to a low-carbon future.
This brief strongly recommends institutionalizing community participation and multi-stakeholder target allocation as a non-negotiable requirement, ensuring that local voices shape policies and benefit-sharing frameworks. It also emphasizes the importance of institutionalized workforce-building initiatives to bridge the skill gap with intentional green industrialization pathways.