The Northern Ghana CSOs Platform on Renewable Energy and Climate Change has called on the government to fast-track the establishment of the Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition (REIGT) Fund.

They further called for the development of the five-year cycle strategic document for the implementation of the Energy Transition Framework with opportunities for CSOs participation in the process.

The group made the request when the Northern Ghana CSOs Platform on Renewable Energy and Climate Change, led by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) paid a courtesy call on Mr Issifu Seidu, the Minister of State Incharge of Climate Change and Sustainability, on Thursday in Accra.

The NORPRA in a statement presented at the meeting said, “NORPRA, the lead Convener envisions a society without poverty, inequalities, injustice and insecurity.

“Over the years we have worked in partnership with other CSOs to influence increased public investment in renewable energy for agricultural-led transformation of climate-impacted Northern Ghana.”

The statement said, “As CSOs who share your vision, we declare our unflinching support for you to realize your vision for the development of our country.”

It stated that it is important to remind ourselves as victims of climate change that the impacts of climate change are felt everywhere around the globe.

“In the case of Ghana, the impact of climate change on livelihoods is much more felt in the northern part of the country as the area with over eight million hectares of arable land experiences only three months of erratic rainfall, nine months of dry season with temperatures sometimes rising above 40C0,” it said.

The statement noted that agriculture has been the main source of livelihoods of the people in northern Ghana is therefore greatly impacted by climate change.

“This results in low agricultural productivity and food insecurity in the area. Obviously, poverty and hunger are on the high side in Northern Ghana,” it stated

“Hon. Minister, it is for this reason that we read the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policies of the Government with excitement and wish to commend Government for its commitment to stablishing Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition (REIGT) Fund,” the statement pointed out.

It said it was also imperative for the government to undertake the development of the five-year cycle strategic document for the implementation of the Energy Transition Framework, implementation of the Accelerating Solar Action Programme (ASAP) with US$31.6 million.

The rest are the implementation of the Renewable Energy Master Plan (2019), construction of Small Earth Dams and Embarking on Climate Mitigation Plantations, and the implementation of Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative.

The statement said “As CSOs working with the poor and vulnerable groups like women, youth and physically challenged persons in climate-vulnerable agriculture landscapes, we call on government to prioritize renewable energy investment in the upcoming Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CPESDP-2026-2030).”

It should facilitate increased public and private investment in renewable energy to raise the US$ 5.6 billion required for effective implementation of the Renewable Energy Master Plan.

“This will be a sign of strong commitment to the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goal 13,” it stated.

It noted that increase public investment in renewable energy (hydro, solar and wind) for dry season irrigation farming of the eight million hectares of agricultural land in climate-impacted Northern Ghana to increase agricultural productivity, food security and jobs as part of climate adaptation and mitigation measures for eradication of poverty and hunger.

“We are strongly convinced that your positive response to this call would within the shortest possible time, not only help build a climate resilient economy but also an accelerated socio-economic transformation of climate-impacted Northern Ghana,” the groups stated.