The 2025 Stakeholder Conference, anchored on the theme Climate Resilience, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development was held from July 16th to 18th at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, Ghana. Jointly organized by the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the conference brought together policymakers, academics, civil society actors, and private sector stakeholders to explore strategies for building resilient communities and advancing sustainable energy transitions.
Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the landmark Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, global efforts have intensified to address the complex and interconnected challenges of climate change and energy systems. Central to these efforts is the need for strong climate resilience, which is the ability of societies and systems to anticipate, absorb, and recover from climate-related shocks. According to the World Meteorological Organization (2023), more than 3.6 billion people currently live in areas highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In parallel, the global world is transitioning from fossil-based energy systems to renewable and low-carbon alternatives.
Chairman’s welcome Address
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Conference and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, warmly welcomed all participants and expressed his honor in hosting the event. He noted that the conference’s theme touches on a matter of global significance (climate change) and emphasized its particular relevance to Ghana.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson highlighted that Ghana has not been spared from the impacts of climate change, citing the extreme weather events experienced in 2024, including floods and droughts, as recent examples. He emphasized the urgent need for collaborative, multi-sectoral partnerships to effectively address these challenges. “Each of us brings unique perspectives and expertise to this conference,” he stated. He urged all participants to actively participate in the discussions.
Address from FES Representative
In her remarks, the Programmes Coordinator of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Ms. Eunice Asiedu, expressed her delight at the steady growth of the FES-UESD partnership, which has now spanned five years. She conveyed her deep appreciation to the management and staff of UESD for their continued collaboration and commitment throughout the partnership. Ms. Asiedu warmly welcomed all participants to the conference and noted her enthusiasm for further engagement during the event.
Keynote Presentations
There were two keynote speakers for day one, and the session was moderated by Dr. Nuworza Kugbey, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Health, UESD. The First presentor, Mr. Roeske Adams, Head of Humanitarian Aid and Capital Market, Clean Commodities Exchange, USA, presented on the topic “using carbon financing to scale sustainable development” which emphasized the use of financial mechanisms to support projects that reduced or remove greenhouse gas emissions in return for earning carbon credits that can be sold to other companies of countries that need to offset their own emissions.
The second keynote presentation was made by Eng. Maxwell Zu-Cudjoe, the Volta Regional Director, EPA. He presented on the topic “towards net zero emissions: the role of clean energy in Africa” and his presentation focused on the context and rationale for just and orderly energy transition, current state of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), energy transition options in SSA, emerging technology and businesses, social economic implications among others. The session ended with questions and answers that proved informative and educative.
Day 1 Panel Discussions
There were three panel discussions on various topics relating to the theme.
The first session which was moderated by Dr. Michael Appiah Karikari explored the broad topic “Building Climate-Resilient Communities”, with contributions from experts including Mr. Kingsley Nkansah, former General Secretary of TUC, and Dr. Fatima Araba Eshun, Lecturer, Department of Geography and Earth Science, UESD. Discussion topics included community-based adaptation strategies, policy innovations, social equity, and financing resilience systems. It was an interactive session which ended with questions and answers.
The second session which was moderated by Dr. Theodora Akweley Asiamah, a Lecturer at the Department of Sustainable Development and Policy, UESD explored the topic “Financing Climate Resilient Systems and Green Transition. The session focused on green financing models, investment strategies, and policy alignment with valuable contributions from experts including Mr. Raymond Ohene Ofori, Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and Ing. Israel Boakye Acheampong, Acting Director, Engineering Design & Projects, African Environmental Sanitaion Consult (AFESC), Jospong Group. The session was also an informative and educative one.
The third and final session for the day which was moderated by Dr. Michael Tuffour, Acting Head, Department of Sustainable Development and Policy, UESD explored “Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy Transition Opportunities”. This session assessed the current state and future prospects of Ghana’s energy transition. Panelists included Mr. Raymond Ohene Ofori, Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr. Rexford Asiamah, a Lecturer at the Department of Sustainable Energy and Resources (UESD), and Mr. Charles Wudengba, Head of Communications, 350 Ghana, all of whom made valuable contributions to the discussions on the topics.
Emerging Issues and Closing
Dr. Frank Kyei-Arthur led a session to identify emerging policy and research priorities.
Chairman’s Closing Remarks
In his closing remarks for day one, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson reflected on the global shortfall in meeting climate targets and called for a strategic three-pronged approach involving policy reform, carbon credit systems, and private sector engagement to drive impactful climate action. He emphasized the significance of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, highlighting carbon financing as critical for advancing climate technologies and sustainable development.
He outlined emerging solutions such as green hydrogen, direct air capture, clean materials, and water purification as pivotal to the future of climate action. UESD, he noted, is actively partnering with Clean Commodities, led by Mr. Roeske Adams, with further collaboration expected during the upcoming Ghana Water Summit in November.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson stressed the economic benefits of collaboration, noting that a unified approach could cost $60 billion, compared to $350 billion if stakeholders act independently. Citing Eng. Maxwell Zu-Cudjoe, he acknowledged the co-existence of fossil fuels and renewables in Ghana’s energy mix, underscoring the central role of electricity in the country’s transition and the need for greater investment in clean energy and effective policy alignment.
He addressed the employment implications of the energy transition, emphasizing the need for reskilling and upskilling to manage job shifts. On hydroelectric power, he reaffirmed its importance, noting that it supplies roughly one-third of Ghana’s electricity (5,000 GWh). He also endorsed reservoir development, referencing a joint project with VRI involving embankment construction and bamboo planting to protect water bodies.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson concluded with optimism, expressing confidence in Ghana’s ability to reach its 10% renewable energy generation target by 2030, provided there is strong collaboration among academia, industry, civil society, and policymakers.
Conclusion
Day One of the 2025 Stakeholder Conference successfully laid the groundwork for impactful dialogue on climate resilience and green energy in Ghana. The sessions fostered insightful exchanges between academics and researchers, policy institutions, civil society, and the private sector, setting the stage for deeper engagement in day two.