President John Dramani Mahama has called on developed countries to provide predictable, non-debt-creating grants to help climate-vulnerable countries respond to the devastating effects of climate change.
He said Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions but continues to bear some of the heaviest consequences of climate change, making climate justice an issue of global equity.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, President Mahama cited Ghana’s recent deadly floods as evidence of the growing climate threat facing vulnerable countries.
“On 29 June this year, Ghana and coastal West Africa faced an unprecedented deluge. Torrential rain, exceeding 160 millimetres, was dumped on seven coastal regions within 24 hours, resulting in 39 deaths and one still missing,” he said.
President Mahama said the experience demonstrated the urgent need for stronger international action to support countries facing climate-related disasters.
“Climate change is the ultimate test of global equity,” he said.
He noted that African countries are confronted with erratic rainfall, coastal erosion and accelerating desertification despite their relatively small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Africa contributes less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears some of the heaviest burden of climate devastation,” he said.
According to President Mahama, the response to the climate crisis must therefore go beyond commitments and include financing mechanisms that do not worsen the debt burdens of vulnerable developing economies.
“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.”
The President’s call comes as the United Nations places climate action, climate resilience and financing among the key issues being addressed during the 81st General Assembly. The UN’s high-level climate programme includes a dedicated meeting on sea-level rise on September 24, focusing on coordinated and adequately financed action.
President Mahama also warned that climate-related threats were not limited to flooding, pointing to melting glaciers, droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes and other extreme weather events as signs of mounting pressure on the global climate system.
He urged the international community to recognise the disproportionate burden being carried by developing countries and strengthen financing for adaptation and mitigation.
The President further linked climate resilience to global health security, arguing that developing countries require stronger public health systems to respond to emerging threats.
He called for regional manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics, stronger epidemic surveillance and increased investment in resilient public health infrastructure across the Global South.
He said such measures should be pursued in line with the demands of the Accra Reset.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
