Ghana Risks Losing Billions in Green Funding Without Clear Sustainability Roadmap — MTN, Deloitte Warn

Ghana could potentially miss out on billions of dollars in emerging green investment opportunities unless it develops a clear, coordinated, and predictable sustainability roadmap, experts from MTN Ghana and Deloitte have warned.

Speaking at the Bright Conversations 2025 forum, industry leaders highlighted the urgent need for Ghana to strengthen its sustainability policies to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving global green economy. They emphasized that countries with clear regulatory frameworks and predictable sustainability practices are better positioned to attract investors and access climate financing.

Policy Uncertainty Threatening Investor Confidence

According to Adwoa Wiafe, MTN Ghana’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, the fragmented nature of Ghana’s current sustainability policies is creating uncertainty for investors seeking stable, long-term green markets.

“The private sector needs clear direction,” Wiafe stated. “If businesses cannot understand what framework guides renewable energy, recycling, or carbon trading investments, they hesitate, and investors take their capital to markets with more predictable rules.”

She further warned that Ghana’s potential to become a sustainability hub in West Africa could weaken if policymakers do not streamline and coordinate existing frameworks. “Our policies must inspire confidence, not confusion,” Wiafe added.

Sustainability as an Economic Imperative

Wiafe argued that sustainability is no longer just a corporate social responsibility initiative but a strategic economic factor that shapes innovation, competitiveness, and resilience.

“Businesses today are evaluated not only on profitability but also on their environmental and social performance. Supply chains, development finance institutions, and global investors increasingly demand measurable sustainability outcomes before entering partnerships,” she noted.

Carbon Market Potential Underutilized

Deloitte Ghana’s Dr. Kwabena Situ highlighted the country’s underdeveloped carbon market as a major untapped opportunity. He estimated that Ghana could attract over $1 billion in climate financing by 2028, yet many local businesses are not fully engaging with the market due to low awareness and limited capacity.

“Companies need guidance on how to generate, verify, and trade carbon credits. Without clear policy and capacity-building initiatives, Ghana risks losing out on this significant revenue stream,” Dr. Situ said. He emphasized that countries with transparent carbon frameworks will dominate the green economy in the coming decade.

A Call for Mindset and Policy Transformation

Both Wiafe and Dr. Situ stressed that Ghana’s long-term economic growth is increasingly tied to its sustainability strategy. They called for a mindset shift among corporate leaders, policymakers, and citizens alike to embrace low-carbon growth and environmental stewardship as central pillars of development.

Wiafe reaffirmed MTN Ghana’s commitment to embedding sustainability across its operations, stressing that the approach not only enhances business resilience but also drives innovation and community development.

“Everything we do must create shared value for both our business and our nation,” she said.

Ghana at a Critical Crossroads

As global markets increasingly prioritize environmental responsibility and climate resilience, Ghana faces a defining choice: either strengthen its policy and institutional frameworks to attract green investment or risk being left behind by better-prepared African competitors.

Industry leaders at Bright Conversations agreed that the country’s sustainability transition is not merely an environmental agenda but a critical economic strategy that could determine Ghana’s long-term growth trajectory.