Winning Strategies for a Sustainable Future

Bertelsmann Stiftung (ed.)

Reinhard Mohn Prize 2013 Photo credits: Sebastian Pfütze: p. 41; Gerhard Heidorn/LAIF: pp. 56/cover, 58/cover, 65, 66, 78; Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB): pp. 63, 68, 71, 75, 77; Ghislaine Grasser: pp. 84, 92, 94/95, 96, 99; CREATISTA/Shutterstock.com: pp. 86/cover, 102; Daniel Korzieniewski/Shutterstock.com: p. 91; Taina Sohlman/Fotolia.com: p. 104; Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com: pp. 110, 124; Mika Heittola/Shutterstock.com: p. 113/cover; Joe Gough/Fotolia.com: p. 114; Gargonia/Shutterstock.com: p. 118; Estea/Shutterstock.com: cover (Helsinki), pp. 121, 123; Laura Burke: pp. 128/cover, 131, 132, 135, 138, 141, 144; Picture courtesy of the State of Tasmania: pp. 151 (photo: Richard Bennett), 156; Thomas Klinke/Panthermedia.net: p. 152/cover; Flo Fastl/Panthermedia.net: p. 158; Steffi Thiel/Fotolia.com: p. 162; Céline Diebold: p. 165, 168; Martina Berg/Panther- media.net: p. 166. Maps: Dieter Duneka. Portraits: Kerstin Andreae: Britt Schilling; Werner J. Bauer: Bertelsmann Stiftung; Peter Blom: Triodos Bank; Laura Burke: private; Aart De Geus: Arne Weychardt; Céline Diebold: Steffen Krinke; Jörg Dräger: Arne Weychardt; Martine Durand: OECD/Michael Dean; Andreas Esche: Jan Voth; Armando García Schmidt: Eva Blank; Maja Göpel: Faceland; Mark Halle: L’Oreal; Harald Heinrichs: Brinkhoff-Mögenburg/Leuphana; Klaus Jacob: FU Berlin; Marius Keller: Ghis- laine Grasser; Norman Laws: private; Brigitte Mohn: Arne Weychardt; Liz Mohn: Arne Weychardt; Ingeborg Niestroy: European Economic and Social Committee; Petra Pinzler: Nicole Sturz; Henrik Riedel: Thomas Kunsch; Uwe Schneide- wind: private; Björn Stigson: Siemens; Rita Süssmuth: Bertelsmann Stiftung; Darren Swanson: International Institute for Sustainable Development; Klaus Töpfer: Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies; Morgan Williams: Dairy NZ.

Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.

© 2013 Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh Responsible: Armando García Schmidt Translation/Editing: Barbara Serfozo, Berlin Production editor: Christiane Raffel Cover design: Elisabeth Menke Typesetting and Printing: Hans Kock Buch- und Offsetdruck GmbH, Bielefeld ISBN 978-3-86793-491-6 www.bertelsmann-stiftung.org/publications Contents

Preface...... 7 Aart De Geus

Strategy and Action for Sustainable Development – A Global Search for Best Practices ...... 11 Andreas Esche, Armando García Schmidt, Céline Diebold, Henrik Riedel

Global Trends in Sustainable Development – A View from the RMP 2013 Global Search Process ...... 19 Darren Swanson, Mark Halle, Armando García Schmidt, Andreas Esche

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Germany...... 39 Harald Heinrichs, Norman Laws, Henrik Riedel

Case Studies ...... 53 Bhutan: Paradigms Matter...... 55 Ingeborg Niestroy, Armando García Schmidt, Andreas Esche Costa Rica: Pioneering Sustainability...... 81 Marius Keller, Ingeborg Niestroy, Armando García Schmidt, Andreas Esche Finland: Paving the Way toward a Social Contract for Sustainability...... 103 Ingeborg Niestroy, Armando García Schmidt, Andreas Esche Ghana: Staying on Track in a Challenging Environment ...... 127 Laura Burke, Armando García Schmidt Tasmania: Sustaining an Island’s Future ...... 149 Morgan Williams, Ingeborg Niestroy, Céline Diebold, Andreas Esche

5 Contents

Factors Driving Strategic and Successful Sustainability Policy: What Can Germany Learn from the RMP 2013 Search Process?...... 171 Klaus Jacob, Armando García Schmidt

The Set of Criteria ...... 183

The Working Committee...... 193

The Authors and the RMP Team ...... 197

6 Ghana: Staying on Track in a Challenging Environment Laura Burke, Armando García Schmidt

Burkina Africa Faso

Côte Ghana d’Ivore Togo Nigeria Bénin

Accra

Gulf of Guinea 100 km

Introduction

Ghana’s path to sustainable development

In 1987, when the Brundtland Report was published and countries around the world began to rally around the principles of sustainable development, Ghana was still a forgotten backwater on a seemingly hopeless continent. If any country in Africa was ever going to emerge as a model for sustainable development, Ghana was on the bottom of the list. Still in the grips of military dictatorship, it would be five years before Ghana would hold its first multiparty elections and years longer still before a democratic culture – a prerequisite for sustainable development – was to emerge. Since 1992, however, Ghana’s progress has been remarkable. Buoyed by six consecutive free and fair multiparty elections as well as the recent discovery of oil, Ghana has become a shining example of economic success and good governance in a turbulent region. In a regional context, Ghana has also emerged as a model of sustainable development. Though efforts to mainstream this mode of development are very new, Ghana’s government, with the support and influence of civil society and development partners, has incorporated sustainable development into its national development plan, drafted landmark legislation on renewable energy and created or reinvigorated regulatory environmental institutions that are backed by strong leaders. Poverty has been cut in half since 1992, and various social safety net programs have been spearheaded by government since 2000. By laying the blueprint for social development, this new oil producer also seems to be avoiding the “mineral curse” afflicting neighboring countries, such as Nigeria. However, despite a strong policy framework, population pressure and Ghana’s drive to perform economically has brought about significant environmental damage. Ghana’s natural resources, especially its forests and waterways, are severely threatened by logging, illegal mining and overfishing. In the areas of sanitation and waste management, Ghana falls behind many of its neighbors. And many poor Ghanaians are waiting to feel the impact of economic growth. Still, Ghana has already achieved many successes, and its pro-

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gress toward sustainability is impressive, particularly when placed in a regional and historical context.

A beacon of stability and growth in a turbulent region

Ghana is a nation of about 25 million people located in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. With an area of nearly 240,000 square kilometers, Ghana’s territory is roughly equal to that of the United Kingdom. A former British colony, the colonialists called the nation the “Gold Coast” for its vast gold reserves, first discovered in the 15th century. English is the official language of Ghana, though a total of 79 local languages are spoken throughout the country. In 1957, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from its colonial power. However, hopes for prosperity were dashed following a military coup in 1966, which gave way to a long period of political repression and economic stagnation. Be- tween 1966 and 1981, Ghana weathered five political coups. However, after ruling by decree for 11 years, President Jerry John Rawlings held multiparty elections in 1992. Rawlings won, but a new constitution was drafted, and he stepped down in 2000 after two consecutive terms. Since the end of the Rawlings era, democratic and economic progress has been swift, and Ghana is now considered a beacon of democracy in West Africa. An active democratic culture has evolved, notably in the form of a strong and participatory civil society, a culture of lively public debate and a predominantly free media. Civil society groups now play a major role in influencing government to enact pro-poor and environmentally friendly legislation, which will be explored in further detail later in this report.

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An overarching national commitment to peace has also developed, as evidenced in recent years. For example, Ghana maintained stability following a presidential election in 2008, when the now-ruling party won by less than 1 percent, and also when President John Atta Mills died unexpectedly in July 2012. Similar events have triggered chaos elsewhere in the region, inter- rupting development efforts on all fronts. Ghana has remained peaceful, creating an enabling environment for development, particularly on the economic front. Ghana’s $39 billion economy is the second-largest in West Africa, after Nigeria’s. The country’s quick economic development in recent years has been driven by the oil sector, construction, transport and information and communications technology, according to the World Bank. Oil was discovered off Ghana’s shores in 2007 under the administration of former Pres- ident John Kuffour, and production began in December 2010. The following year, Ghana reg- istered 14.4 percent economic growth, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. GDP per capita in 2011 was $1,570 (World Bank 2012). In July 2011, the World Bank promoted Ghana from lower income to lower-middle income status. But the bank also said Ghana needs $26 billion in infrastructure development, such as roads and electricity, to support its economic growth. In 2012, Ghana’s economy recorded around 8 percent growth. Still one of the largest gold producers on the continent, Ghana also exports crude oil, timber, cocoa, diamonds, bauxite and manganese. Sixty percent of foreign direct investment goes to extractive industries. With such economic activity, “value addition is almost non-existent and the environmental impacts are enormous,” the UNDP points out (2012). Agriculture, particularly subsistence farming, is the mainstay of the working people. Half of the country’s workers are engaged in farming. Within the country, distribution of wealth is relatively uneven, with a Gini coefficient of a little more than 40. The arid north of the country, where the majority of Muslims live, suffers from endemic poverty and is marked by social marginalization. Infrastructure and service delivery is better in southern Ghana, particularly around the capital. Many of Ghana’s struggles and successes in recent years revolve around the energy sector, which has not been able to keep up with increasing demand. Today, 60 percent of electricity in Ghana is generated by hydroelectric power plants, with the remaining 40 percent coming from thermal plants, according to the Ministry of Energy. Ghana has struggled to secure sufficient supplies of natural gas, which is used to run many of its thermal power plants. The natural gas shortage was made worse in August of 2012 when the West Africa Gas Pipeline, which carries gas from Nigeria to Ghana, Togo and Benin, was shut down after being damaged in Togo. The shortage of gas in Ghana, combined with an increasing demand, forced the government to institute a load-shedding program. Blackouts remain a weekly, if not daily, oc- currence in many neighborhoods in the capital, and most businesses require generators to operate. Only 60 percent of the population had access to electricity as of 2009 (World Bank 2009). Ghana is set to begin producing its own natural gas in 2013, however. While the supply may not be sufficient to solve the crisis, the gas will power a new geothermal plant for electricity generation. The government is also developing other energy sources in the form of hydropower and renewables. Concerning educational access, the primary school enrollment rate in Ghana is near 100 percent. Primary schools do not ask for school fees, and both free meals and free transport are

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provided. While these are impressive gains, the overwhelming response has put a heavy bur- den on teachers and the primary school infrastructure.

Sustainable development policies and strategies in historical context

Early policy developments

Ghana’s sustainable development policies have come about very recently, with the mainstreaming of sustainable development into the national development plan initiated only in 1996. While the evolution of this plan will be discussed shortly, this sub-chapter will briefly examine early environmental regulatory policy developments and the origins of the agency charged with national development planning. First, it should be noted that one result of Ghana’s 20-year record of good governance and stability is that the nation has become an attractive working environment for NGOs and international development partners. As one diplomat said, Ghana now has an “elaborate donor ar- chitecture,” and these donors, along with civil society, continue to play a large role in shaping government policy. In fact, many of Ghana’s sustainable development policies can be traced to involvement by development partners. Some environmental regulations were put in place early in the 20th century by Britain, mainly relating to the creation of forest reserves and watershed protection. However, the exploitation of forest timber and mineral resources was carried out with little regulation for the greater part of the century. Ghana’s environmental regulatory framework as we know it today was initiated in the early 1970s, when Ghana sought economic assistance from the Interna- tional Monetary Fund (IMF) and the institution pushed for comprehensive environmental legislation. The Environmental Protection Council was established in 1974, and the council drafted environmental impact assessment (EIA) guidelines in 1989. The council had little power, however, and by this time, Ghana’s natural environment had already undergone significant degradation – both during the colonial period and after 1957 – as a result of mining, timber exploitation and a widening agricultural sector. Environmental regulation was strengthened with the parliamentary creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1994. The EPA was granted powers in the areas of regulation, license development and permits. Between 1999 and 2012, the EPA received substantial assistance from the Dutch government, which assisted the agency in strengthening capacity and developing environmental assessment procedures and techniques. Netherlands-supported projects have included: the Ghana Environmental Assessment Capacity Development Project (1999–2001); the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (Phases I and II, 2002–2004); and the Ghana Environmental Assessment Support Project (2005–2007). The origins of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) go back to 1987, when a team of Hungarian consultants (Tesco) working under the auspices of the United Na- tions Development Programme (UNDP) proposed the establishment of an effective system of development planning within the policy of decentralization. Tesco’s proposals were consid-

130 Ghana: Staying on Track in a Challenging Environment

ered at a high-level workshop attended by Ghanaian government officials in March 1987. The decision to establish the NDPC was announced later that year. However, the commission was not formally inaugurated until 1995 by then-President Jerry John Rawlings. The commission’s role is to “advise the Gha- naian president on development policy and strategy and to ensure the effective implementation of national plans and strategies,” according to the commission’s website (NDPC 2013).

Evolution of sustainable development policies

In recent years, Ghana has gained a reputa- tion for strong policies and regulations in areas of concern for sustainable development. It has developed and laid a legal foundation for a number of policies considered to incorporate best practices in the area, most notably the Renewable Energy Act of 2011 and the Petroleum Revenue Management Act of 2011. Ghana’s national development planning system has also evolved in such a way as to mainstream issues of sustainable development. As energy demands increase and the natural gas supply from Nigeria has proven unrelia- ble, Ghana has worked to develop alternatives, including renewable energy. In 2010, the former minister of energy created a Renewable Energy Directorate, and parliament passed the Renewable Energy Act of 2011. The act provides the legal and regulatory framework necessary for enhancing and expanding the country's renewable energy sector. Its provisions include the promotion of biofuel, requirements that bulk electricity consumers purchase a certain percentage of renewable energy, measures to ensure the sustainable management of wood fuel, and the creation of a renewable energy fund. Such measures are designed to create an enabling environment for a renewable energy sector in Ghana. In November 2012, the government set an ambitious target of increasing the distribution and use of renewable energy in the country from its current 1 percent rate (which excludes hydropower) to 10 percent by 2020. Ghana has also developed strong legislation on the management of its petroleum revenue, which is modeled on Norway’s legislation and is widely considered to incorporate best regulatory practices. It is important to remember that mineral resource wealth in sub-Saharan Africa, rather than bringing prosperity to large swaths of the population, has often fostered corruption, in- cited armed conflict and damaged the environment. Mineral wealth often results in a high disparity in wealth, as well. For example, in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, an estimated 75 per-

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cent of the population lived on less than $700 a year in 2010 even as the country boasted an average per capita income of almost $35,000, the highest such figure on the continent. When oil was discovered off Ghana’s shores in 2007, a heated public debate ensued on how Ghana could avoid such a scenario. Thus, following the discovery of what is now called the Jubilee Oil Field, government officials visited oil-producing countries around the world, including Nigeria, Norway and the United States, seeking to assess industry best practices and ultimately create a regulatory framework enabling Ghana to avoid the “mineral curse.” As the Ministry of Finance and Eco- nomic Planning declared in a presentation: “Lessons from other countries can help Ghana in mitigating the negative effects and ensuring that petroleum revenue can fuel economic development and contribute to prosperity for both current and future generations” (GH-MFEP 2011). Ghana began producing oil in December 2010, and the Petroleum Revenue Management Act was passed by parliament in 2011. The act is meant “to provide a framework for the collec- tion, allocation and management of petroleum revenue in a responsible, transparent, accountable and sustainable manner for the benefit of all citizens of Ghana” (ibid.). The act provides a good basis for compliance with internationally agreed principles for sovereign wealth funds, including the General Accepted Principles and Practices (GAPP), also known as the Santiago Principles. The act established the Ghana Stabilization Fund and the Ghana Heritage Fund, both of which can be viewed within the framework of sustainable development. The objective of the Ghana Stabilization Fund is to cushion the impact of periods of unanticipated petroleum revenue shortfalls, in part by sustaining public expenditure capacity during these times. The purpose of the Ghana Heritage Fund is “to provide an endowment to support development for

132 Ghana: Staying on Track in a Challenging Environment

future generations when the petroleum reserves have been depleted” (GH-PRMA 2011). Ac- cording to the act, about 16 percent and 4 percent of the oil receipts are respectively mandated to go into the Stabilization Fund and Heritage Fund. With respect to the evolution of Ghana’s development planning, a long series of stabilization programs began in 1983 with the Economic Recovery Program/Structural Adjustment Programs (1983–1999), implemented with the support of the IMF and World Bank. These plans were mainly aimed at introducing a market-based economy to Ghana and at promoting the private sector as the engine of sustained economic growth. These early development plans are not considered to fall within the framework of sustainable development. The country’s first national strategy for sustainable development was Vision 2020, which was adopted in 1996. In 2000, this was replaced by the first of several subsequent poverty reduction strategies that sought to promote the three pillars of sustainable development (i.e., environmental, economic and sociopolitical development; IMF 2012). The first program, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy I (GPRS I) 2003–2005, focused on: sound economic management for accelerated growth; increased production and the promotion of sustainable liveli- hoods; support for human resource development and the provision of basic services; special programs for the vulnerable and excluded; good governance; and increased capacity for public- and private-sector development. While GPRS I contained little emphasis on the environment pillar, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the plan was carried out in 2004 with the backing of several donors. The next development plan, the GPRS II 2006–2009, strived to improve the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development. For example, the GPRS I treated environment and gender as stand-alone issues, while GPRS II mainstreamed these issues into all development policies. Another advance in the GPRS II was the mainstreaming of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The GPRS II also shifted focus toward accelerating the growth of the economy so that Ghana could achieve middle-income status within a measurable planning period. The current development plan, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) 2010–2013, further expands the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development and focuses on the achievement of intergenerational equity.

Conceptual design and goals of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda

The GSGDA 2010–2013 is primarily based on principles outlined in the governing party’s manifesto, the “Better Ghana Agenda,” which was put forth during the campaign of former President John Atta Mills. The agenda has been continued under the leadership of Presi- dent John Dramani Mahama, the former vice president. However, civil society organizations and international development partners were also involved in the formulation of the GSGDA. The GSGDA is the first phase of the Coordinated Program of Economic and Social Devel- opment Policies (2010–2016), which was presented by former President John Atta Mills to parliament in 2010. The agenda lays the foundation for the rapid structural transformation of the economy premised on agricultural modernization and a sustainable exploitation of min-

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eral resources. The GSGDA emphasizes the need for continued macroeconomic stability and greater executive efficiency, transparency and accountability to provide the setting for the reduction of poverty and geographic disparities in wealth. The mission of the GSGDA responds to Ghana’s constitutional injunction calling for the “establishment of a just and free society where every Ghanaian would have the opportunity to live long, productive and meaningful lives,” according to the National Development Planning Commission’s website (NDPC 2013). The overall goal of the GSGDA is to accelerate the growth of the economy with the aim of creating more jobs, generating more incomes and reducing poverty. The objectives of the agenda are legally binding and enshrined in the Directive Prin- ciples for State Policy, which require the government to pursue policies that lead to achievement of the mission statement. Policy measures identified to achieve this overall goal are prioritized in seven thematic areas, namely: •• Ensuring and sustaining macroeconomic stability; •• Enhanced competitiveness of Ghana’s private sector; •• Accelerated agricultural modernization and sustainable natural resource management; •• Oil and gas development; •• Infrastructure and human settlements development; •• Human development, productivity and employment; and •• Transparent and accountable governance.

Other issues of critical importance, such as gender inequality, population growth, environmental impact, vulnerability and social exclusion, have also been mainstreamed into these thematic areas. All goals are associated with measurable, quantitative targets detailed in the NDPC’s 212-page policy framework for the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) 2010–2013. In brief, the general goals for each theme are as follows (NDPC 2010): •• Ensuring and sustaining macroeconomic stability: to attain a per capita income of at least $1,567 by 2013, as well as achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. •• Enhanced competitiveness of Ghana’s private sector: to develop viable and efficient micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; accelerate industrial development; develop the tourism industry; and promote the creative industry. •• Accelerated agricultural modernization: to accelerate the modernization of agriculture through the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FAS- DEP II) and the corresponding investment plan as detailed in the Medium-Term Agricul- tural Sector Investment Plan (METASIP); and ensure an effective linkage between agriculture and industry. •• Sustainable natural resource management: to improve cross-sectoral environmental management; adapt to the impact of and reduce vulnerability to climate variability and change; maintain and enhance protected areas; address loss of biodiversity; promote sustainable extraction and use of mineral resources; integrate water resource management; enhance community participation in environmental and natural resource management; and miti- gate the impact of natural disasters.

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•• Oil and gas development: to create employment; effectively and transparently manage revenue; diversify the economy; develop capacity; and increase access to petroleum products, all while protecting the environment. •• Infrastructure: to develop transport infrastructure, energy and energy supply so as to support industries and households; promote science, technology and innovation; develop information and communication technology; develop human settlements; and improve water, environmental sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. The energy policy focuses mainly on: energy supply to support industries and households; development of thermal, renewable, nuclear and geothermal energy sources; energy efficiency and conservation; creation of an appropriate regulatory environment; mobilization of investment for energy-sector development; building human resource capacity; and research and development. •• Human settlements development: to improve spatial/land use planning and management, ur- ban development and management practices, and housing/shelter conditions; upgrade slums; improve disaster prevention; create institutional arrangements for implementing human settlements development; and improve water systems, environmental sanitation and hygiene. •• Human development, productivity and employment: addresses issues related to education; human resource development, productivity and employment; health promotion including programs addressing HIV/AIDS and STDs; population management including mi- gration and development; youth and sports development; aging; disability; poverty reduction; and social protection. To address imbalances in development, emphasis is placed on reducing regional inequalities across the country through the establishment of public authorities for special development zones, such as the Savannah Accelerated Develop- ment Authority (SADA), the Western Corridor Authority and the Eastern Corridor Au- thority, among others. The creation of the zones is accompanied by a plan to intensify the implementation of the national social protection strategy and review the overall national social protection framework. To address increasing unemployment among youth in par-

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ticular, employment issues will be mainstreamed into the development planning process at all levels. •• Transparent and accountable governance: addresses issues related to deepening the practice of democracy and institutional reforms; local governance and decentralization; public policy management and public sector reforms; enhancing development communication; the participation of women in governance; corruption and economic crimes; the rule of law and justice; public safety and security; access to rights and entitlements; the national culture of development; domestic and international relations; development-conducive migra- tion; and evidence-based decision-making.

There are 315 quantitative indicators through which the plans’ progress is to be monitored, as detailed in the policy framework of the GSGDA. As Table 1 shows, progress was made on 36.8 percent out of a total of 315 indicators in 2011, compared to 28.6 percent in 2010. Ghana’s government estimates that $23.9 billion in services and investment expenditure will be needed to implement the GSGDA. Public expenditure priorities include agriculture, infrastructure (including oil and gas development), health, sanitation, water and education. Of the total, 39 percent of spending would be on infrastructure, 25 percent on human development, 15.1 percent on oil and gas, and 4.1 percent on agriculture. There are budgetary impediments to implementing the strategy, however. In February 2013, the Bank of Ghana announced that the country was facing a budget deficit of 12.4 percent, which took many by surprise. Analysts predict the government will not have enough funding to fully implement its development plan.

Table 1: Summary of progress made on indicators (2010, 2011)

Thematic area Target Steady Target not Lack Total # Total # Share of targets achieved/ progress achieved/ of indicators indicators achieved/steady significant slow data tracked tracked progress (%) progress progress 2011 2010 2010 2011 Macroeconomic 17 4 10 6 37 37 54 56.8 stability Private-sector 10 2 4 6 22 22 64 54.5 competitiveness Agricultural moderni- 26 15 14 17 72 72 50 56.9 zation and natural resources management Oil and gas 7 1 3 1 12 9 56 66.7 development Infrastructure and 19 7 20 5 51 54 85 51.0 human settlements Human development, 15 12 18 5 50 50 38 54.0 productivity and employment Transparent and 22 22 17 10 71 71 54 62.0 accountable governance Total 116 63 86 50 315 315 57 56.8 Source: NDPC 2012

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Implementation process

Institutionalizing sustainability

Institutions that promote sustainable development have been created and strengthened over the last 20 years. These include: the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC); a “Green Cabinet;” the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology; the Environmental Protection Agency; and, most recently, the Renewable Energy Directorate in the Ministry of Energy. Sustainability has also been institutionalized by the development of an active civil society, which will be explored in the next sub-chapter. The NDPC falls under the executive branch of government, and its mandate is to advise the president on development planning policy and strategy. Whether on its own initiative or at the request of the parliament or president, the commission is expected to carry out a number of tasks, including the following: conducting strategic analyses of macroeconomic and structural reform options; making proposals for the development of multiyear rolling plans; making proposals for protecting natural and physical environments to ensure that development strategies are in conformity with sound environmental principles; making proposals for ensuring the even development of the districts of Ghana; monitoring, evaluating and coordinating development policies, programs and projects; and preparing broad national development plans. The commission releases a comprehensive annual report examining progress made toward all goals and targets. The NDPC works with all levels of government – including the president, parliament, ministries, regional coordinating councils and district assemblies – to plan, coordinate and moni- tor development. Vision 2020, GPRS I and II, and the GSGDA also used cross-sectoral planning groups (CSPGs) in the development of the strategies, which facilitated the efficient construction of synergies between projects and programs. Ghana’s government has also created institutional frameworks to facilitate cooperation between ministries charged with economic, social and environmental affairs, most specifically with the creation of a “Green Cabinet” known as the Environmental and Natural Resources Management Team. Former Vice President (now President) John Dramani Mahama created this team, which includes ministers from both the economic and environmental ministries. The team, which meets monthly, helps to ensure the integration of Ghana’s economic and environmental goals and prevents conflict between ministries. It is also a legal requirement in Ghana that all projects and programs be subject to either an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or a strategic environmental assessment (SEA). EIA procedures were issued in 1995, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations were made law in 1999. The World Bank made a strategic environment assessment (SEA) of the national development plan one of the conditions for the release of debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative in the early 2000s. In 2004, Ghana’s vice president confirmed that the government would require SEAs for all policies, plans and strategies. Be- tween October 2004 and March 2009, some 20 SEAs were initiated on major policies and strategies (Nelson and Doolan 2012: 73).

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It is also worth noting that the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) was re-established in 2009 by President John Atta Mills after three years without a minister. Among other tasks, the ministry is responsible for developing and strengthening the enforcement of safe and sound environmental policies. The strongest environmental institution is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which falls under MEST. As mentioned earlier, the EPA was created through an act of parliament in 1994 and granted powers in the areas of regulation, license development and permits. The EPA is also responsible for conducting EIAs and SEAs. The EPA has its own in-house pros- ecutors, so the agency does not have to go through the Attorney General’s office to take a sus- pected violator to court. In 2012, the EPA closed down 18 companies and fined some 50 others. In 2009, the EPA also initiated the AKOBEN program, an environmental performance rating and disclosure initiative that “names and shames” violators of environmental regulation. Under the initiative, the environmental performance of mining and manufacturing operations is assessed using a five-color rating scheme indicating environmental performance ranging from excellent to poor. These ratings are annually disclosed to the public and the general media with the aims of strengthening public awareness and encouraging public debate. Another institution that has been put in place to better target environmental sustainability is the Renewable Energy Directorate, which the Ministry of Energy created and placed under its supervision in 2010. The directorate focuses on the development and promotion of renewable energy sources (e.g., wood fuel, hydropower, solar energy, wind power, biofuels, waste-to- energy and animal traction) as well as on increasing access to sustainable energy services.

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Participation

As mentioned earlier, Ghana has developed an active democratic culture since its first multiparty elections were held in 1992; since 2000, its national development strategies have been created by applying core aspects of sustainable development governance, such as participation. National strategies are increasingly developed with broad and effective public participation, including consultation with academia, civil society, the private sector and other key stakeholders. The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s BTI report on Ghana confirms “that civil society actors are encouraged to participate in agenda setting and policy formulation up to a certain level, in particular when government wants to display its commitment to transparency or to address certain pressing issues” (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2014). Interviewees from civil society consistently said the government includes them in its de liberations, indicating the desire to cultivate a broad consensus in developing effective strategies. An interviewee from the West Africa Civil Society Institute called civil society participation in Ghana “phenomenal.” She said that the relationship between civil society and the government has evolved from a combative one in the 1990s to a collaborative one in recent years, and that civil society “has developed and gained a strong level of respect.” She pointed out that members of civil society are even being appointed to government positions. For example, President Mahama’s policy advisor, his executive secretary and the new minister of gender, children and family protection are all from NGOs that have criticized aspects of current government policy. This is remarkable in a region where military or clan-based leaders control states through systems of patronage. An official from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology said of civil society, “If you leave them [out], they will hurt you,” attesting to the influence of civil society groups. Certain think tanks have become particularly influential, including the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the Institute for Eco- nomic Affairs (IMANI) and the Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC). Professional associations, such as the Trade Unions Congress, the House of Chiefs and the Market Wom- en’s Association, are also included in the elaboration of policies and programs. IDEG, for example, has built national awareness around the issue of youth unemployment and submitted policy suggestions to the government, leading to the creation of the National Youth Employment Program. The CDD was a founding member of the Ghana Anti-Corrup- tion Coalition and pushed the government to pass legislation on the rights of the disabled, resulting in the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006. When Ghana began a constitutional review in 2010, the CDD launched a coalition of civil society groups to advise parliament. A constitutional review commission carried out consulta- tions with the public over a period of two years, and representatives from civil society, the private sector, professional bodies, local and national government all participated in the review process, which was completed in 2012. A wide swath of stakeholders have also been involved in advancing Ghana’s various development plans since 2000, including representatives from local government, NGOs, civil society, traditional authorities, the scientific and technological community, and professional bodies.

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In addition, the public also played a large role in instilling a climate of peace and open dia- logue before the 2012 elections. A civil society organization, the Institute for Economic Af- fairs, organized the three public presidential debates for the 2012 elections. Multiple stakeholders from civil society, churches and traditional authorities were also involved in arranging the Kumasi Declaration, an agreement to eschew violence that was signed by eight presidential candidates. Furthermore, communities have been granted more involvement in the management of natural resources at the local level through the 2011 creation of Community Resource Man- agement Areas (CREMAs) and the establishment of the independent National Forest Forum to assist the Forestry Commission in forest governance. Some shortcomings in participation exist, however. As the Ministry of Environment noted in the lead-up to the Rio+20 conference, there are reports that participants often have inadequate time to prepare and are provided with little advance information on subjects under discussion. It was also noted that civil society organizations sometimes lack the capacity and resources to participate effectively in consultation processes.

Outcomes and achievements

Ghana has made significant progress on economic and social indicators in recent years, as outlined in the GSGDA and the previous poverty reduction papers. Most notably, these include achieving macroeconomic stability, halving the country’s poverty rate since 1992 and getting on track to reach some of the Millennium Development Goals (GH-MEST 2012). The environmental pillar remains the weakest link in Ghana’s path to sustainable development, as will be explored further below. Since 2010, there have been huge gains in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy, notably the attainment of single-digit (9 %) inflation in 2011 and a fast economic growth rate of 8 percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2011, according to the World Bank (2012). Among the most well- known objectives of Ghana’s development plan was the aim of attaining a per capita income of at least $1,567 by 2013, making it a lower-middle income country, as well as the achievement of the MDGs by 2015. Ghana was able to achieve the first of these goals two years ahead of schedule, when GDP per capita reached $1,570 in 2011, up from $1,090 in 2009 (World Bank 2012). The percentage of people living under the national poverty line has been halved since 1992, from 51.7 percent in 1992 to 28.5 percent in 2006, a fact the National Development Planning Commission cites as one of its greatest successes. Although Ghana will not attain all of the MDGs, it is on track to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty and achieve universal primary education by 2015 (MDGs 1 and 2). Among other sub-Saharan African countries, only Ethio- pia, Ghana, Uganda and Senegal are making significant progress toward the achievement of MDG 1. In 2011, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies implemented a number of poverty reduction interventions, including: the National Health Insurance Scheme; the Capita- tion Grant; free uniforms, exercise books and rides on metro mass transit for schoolchildren;

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the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program; and the School Feeding Pro- gram (NDPC 2012). Ghana is taking several measures to address the energy crisis, in part by producing its own gas, but also by promoting renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, and by building a new hydroelectric dam. This new 400-megawatt hydroelectric dam is set to become operational this year. Located on the Black Volta River, the Bui Dam was built by the government in collaboration with Chi- nese construction company SinoHydro. Bui is the third major dam in the country after the Akosombo Dam and the Kpong Dam. Unfortunately, the construction of the dam, while providing clean energy, has had a negative environmental impact, flooding about 20 percent of Bui National Park and impacting habitats for the rare black hippopotamus and other native wildlife species. The environmental and social impact assessment carried out in 2007 con- cluded that, if implemented properly, “the construction and operation of the Bui Project is not likely to cause unacceptable impacts on the environment or the communities of the surround- ing area” (GH-ME 2007). Over the past few years, Ghana has become a regional pioneer in the promotion of solar and wind power. The Renewable Energy Directorate is composed of just 10 staff members, but the division has managed to launch a host of initiatives, including projects to install solar- powered refrigerators in clinics without electricity, distribute 200,000 solar lanterns in “off- grid” communities, establish a solar farm – albeit a small one of just two megawatts – and map the country’s wind energy potential. Ghana’s efforts have won praise from Sustainable Energy for All, a global initiative led by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. According to the initiative’s website: “The energy objectives established by Ghana represent an important example of country-led action that will advance the

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objectives of Sustainable Energy for All, and in doing so, increase renewable energy development, improve access to modern energy services, and bolster economic output (UN SEA 2013).” Lastly, Ghana has been a regional pioneer in drafting and implementing strong legislation – incorporating sustainability concepts drawn from Norway – dealing with management of its petroleum revenue. As previously mentioned, the Petroleum Revenue Management Act of 2011 created the Ghana Stabilization Fund, intended to cushion the impact of unanticipated petroleum revenue shortfalls and sustain public expenditure capacity during these periods, as well as the Ghana Heritage Fund, tasked with retaining oil revenues for use by future generations. In 2011, the stabilization fund was provided with $54.8 million, while the heritage fund received $14.4 million, the Bank of Ghana reported (Dzawu 2012). While these figures are quite small, total proceeds of crude oil sales belonging to the state were valued at only $444.1 million for 2011, or just 1 percent of GDP. However, that figure is expected to rise in coming years. Concerning improvements in gender equality, Ghana is close to reaching gender parity in primary education, though barriers remain within the secondary and tertiary education sectors for women and girls. Ghana still has a high maternal mortality rate of 350 deaths per 100,000 live births (the MDG target is 185 deaths per 100,000 live births). Domestic violence also remains endemic. However, the government is taking steps to address these problems by providing free maternal health care, for example. In 2001, the government established the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and it has instituted a domestic violence depart- ment within this ministry. Parliament has also passed legislation in support of women’s rights, including the Domestic Violence Act 2007 and additional laws criminalizing female genital mutilation (Addo 2012). Women are slowly occupying more positions in public office, but there is much progress to be made in this area. Women won just 28 of 278 seats in parliament in the 2012 elections.

Challenges ahead

As noted previously, Ghana’s government has incorporated environmental sustainability strategies and put in place a strong policy framework to address environmental degradation. How- ever, the implementation of the framework appears weak, as outcomes relating to this pillar of sustainability appear discouraging thus far. For example, according to Yale University’s Envi- ronmental Performance Index, which ranks 163 countries on environmental public health and ecosystem vitality, Ghana was ranked 91 in 2012 (EPI 2012). Discussions with officials, donors and members of civil society point to numerous barriers to the implementation of Ghana’s policies, including corruption, a lack of buy-in by government and local communities, problems attracting and retaining expertise in the public sector, a lack of financial and human resources for enforcement, and weak institutional coordination. A number of ground-level contextual forces also hinder environmental conservation, notably population growth and limited economic opportunities. Ghana’s population nearly dou- bled between 1985 and 2010, from 12.9 million to 24.4 million (World Bank 2012); this has resulted in more land use for subsistence agriculture and more tree-cutting for wood fuel.

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Over 60 percent of the population works in agriculture, largely subsistence farming. A continued reliance on extractive industries, particularly mining, also puts pressure on the land and contributes to environmental degradation. Meanwhile, in poor rural communities, there are few alternatives to income generation apart from tree-cutting, artisanal mining and, of course, agriculture. The degradation of the environment is already incurring economic costs. According to the World Bank (2007), the annual cost of natural resource and environmental degradation in Ghana is equivalent to about 9.6 percent of GDP. The loss is “due to unsustainable exploitation of the country’s forests, land resources, wildlife and fisheries, and the health impacts of environmental factors,” the UNDP reports (2012). Ghana’s government has made some efforts to slow deforestation by placing 15 percent of land under some form of protection, banning the export of raw logs in 1994 and encouraging replantation projects in degraded forest areas. These efforts have proven to be insufficient, however. Ghana’s primary rainforest has been reduced by nearly 90 percent. In 1990, the forest cover was estimated at 7,448,000 hectares, and this is being depleted at an average rate of 1.8 percent per year (GH-MEST 2010). According to research by Chatham House, 59 to 65 percent of the tree-cutting in Ghana is carried out illegally, and three-quarters of the illegal harvesting is carried out by artisanal workers for the domestic market (Lawson 2010). The failure of authorities to curb illegal small-scale mining, known as “galamsey,” is also a major environmental and health hazard in Ghana. Miners, mostly operating in the southern part of the country around the major mines, often block rivers and poison waterways by using toxic substances, such as liquid mercury, to process gold ore. The EPA has said it is not responsible for the impact of illegal mining, as its mandate is to regulate legal activity. The responsibility of curbing illegal mining falls to national and local security authorities, but the job of stopping the mining is difficult due to the dispersal of miners in remote forested areas. The miners themselves – like many involved in illegal tree-cutting – are generally destitute, and pro-poor organizations say the solution is to create employment alternatives for them. Some analysts point out the “danger of averages” when looking at Ghana’s economic record. While lower-middle income status has been achieved, the three regions in the north have seen only marginal decreases in poverty. Poverty rates in the north are two to three times the national average, and because there is only one growing season in the region, food insecurity remains a critical challenge there. Pertaining to the achievement of MDGs, Ghana is not on track to improve maternal health or reduce child mortality enough to reach goal 4 or 5. The other goals are “potentially achiev- able” or “likely to be partially achieved.” Goal 7 (“Ensure Environmental Sustainability”) is unlikely to be realized in full. Ghana still ranks only 135th out of 187 countries on the UNDP’s 2011 Human Development Index, a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide. Overall, despite significant efforts, Ghana is facing a host of critical challenges, including environmental degradation, an energy shortage, poor infrastructure, inadequate health facili- ties, youth unemployment, weak institutions and corruption. There are many problems to tackle, and therefore a desperate need for more revenue streams. As traditional development partners are facing budget constraints in their own countries due to the recent global eco-

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nomic recession, Ghana and other African countries are facing cuts in their aid resources and looking to the private sector to generate revenue. As the minister of industry and trade said, “What Ghana needs is trade, not aid.” Yet attracting investors continues to be a challenge given the country’s energy shortages and land-title issues. Strengthening the environmental pillar in practice, while continuing to develop economically and provide much-needed services to the population, will likely remain a critical challenge for Ghana in the years to come.

What we can learn from Ghana

Given that Ghana’s path toward sustainable development was only initiated in the past decade or two, other countries may at first assume there is little to learn from this developing nation. However, many countries, particularly those in the region with a similar geopolitical back- ground, have been inspired by Ghana’s model. Moreover, there are several lessons that countries outside sub-Saharan Africa can learn from Ghana, as well. This final section explores three of these lessons. One of Ghana’s biggest strengths is its overarching national commitment to unity. Such unity is not a given, as Ghana’s population is by no means homogenous. Ghana is a diverse landscape of 43 ethnic groups, in which about 79 languages are spoken. The north is predominantly Muslim, while the south is mostly Christian. Despite these differences, Ghana- ians understand that peace, and therefore unity, is a prerequisite for development. Many Gha- naians say they are unwilling to throw away their hard-won gains in the areas of democratic and economic growth. Many trace this commitment to a remembrance of what life was like under military dictatorship.

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They have also seen refugees flood their borders from neighboring countries, most recently including Côte D’Ivoire due to post-election violence. As a result, political, religious and traditional leaders have unleashed what amounts to propaganda campaigns over the years, especially before elections, seeking to emphasize a message of unity and peace. Any politician who uses vitriolic or divisive language is routinely shamed by influential chiefs, religious leaders and the media. While some have criticized the establishment for focusing more on peace than on justice, the result of this strong focus has been an inclusive democracy that thus far appears unshakable. Second, public participation is crucial to advancing a sustainability agenda. The government of Ghana has done many things right, but one of its wisest moves has arguably been to develop an inclusive environment. By granting civil society groups, chiefs, religious leaders and professional associations a place at the bargaining table, strong and inclusive policies have been formed, and conflict has been averted. As mentioned in the sub-chapter on participation, civil society groups have played key roles in raising national awareness and presenting policy recommendations to the government, resulting in the passage of bills such as the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006 and programs such as the National Youth Employment Program. Many civil society groups are currently active in pushing for a Right to Information bill. Civil society also serves as a watchdog, calling government out on its misdeeds. It is also no coinci- dence that a higher degree of inclusivity in the development planning process has correlated with more mainstreaming of sustainable development in the national development plans. Finally, strong policies are formed when one is open to new systems. Ghanaian officials have approached development with an open mind and have sought out best practices in the region and the world after which to model their policies. For example, the government re- searched best practices within the petroleum industry and subsequently drafted strong legislation on petroleum revenue management. Ghana’s Petroleum Revenue Management Act of 2011 is considered to be the best of its kind in the region. Ghana is also one of the first countries on the continent to have displayed openness to generating renewable energy rather than relying solely on fossil fuels. The above lessons can inspire other countries in the region and the world, particularly new democracies and economies in transition that are struggling to balance the needs of the current generation with those of the future.

References

Addo, Mary Anne. “Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women: the Ghana Experience.” Presented at the UN Development Cooperation Forum’s Vienna Policy Dia- logue on Gender Equality on December 13, 2012. www.un.org/en/ecosoc/newfunct/pdf/ vpd_undcf.pdf. Bertelsmann Stiftung. BTI 2014. Ghana Country Report. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2014. Dzawu, Moses Mozart. “Ghana Oil Fund Savings Reach $69.2 million in 2011, Bank Says.” Bloomberg, March 15, 2012. www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-15/ghana-oil-fund-

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savings-reach-69-2-million-in-2011-bank-says.html and www.bog.gov.gh/privatecontent/Pub lic_Affairs/semi-annual%20report%20on%20the%20ghana%20petroleum%20funds.pdf. EPI (Environmental Performance Index). “Country Profile: Ghana.” New Haven: Yale Univer- sity, 2012. http://epi.yale.edu/dataexplorer/countryprofiles. GH-ME (Ghanian Ministry of Economy). “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Bui Hydroelectric Project, Final Report.” Prepared by Environmental Resources Man- agement in association with SGS Environment for the Ministry of Energy. Accra: Ministry of Economy, 2007. http://library.mampam.com/Final%20ESIA%20-%20Bui%20HEP.pdf. GH-MEST (Ghanian Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology). “Ghana Goes for Green Growth: National Engagement on Climate Change.” Accra: MEST 2010. GH-MEST. “National Assessment Report on Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and Targets for Rio+20 Conference.” Accra: MEST, 2012. http://sustainabledevelopment. un.org/content/documents/1016ghananationalreport.pdf. GH-MFEP (Ghanian Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning). “Oil and Gas – Revenue Management and Coordination. A Strategic Cross-Cutting Issue Discussion.” PowerPoint presentation held in Accra on May 16, 2011. GH-PRMA (Ghana’s Petroleum Revenue Management Act). Government of Ghana, Act 815. http://ghanaoilwatch.org/images/laws/petroluem-revenue-management-act815-2011-.pdf. IMF (International Monetary Fund). “Ghana: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.” IMF Country Report No. 12/203. Washington, D.C.: IMF, 2012. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2012/ cr12203.pdf. Lawson, Sam. “Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response.” Energy, Environment and Resource Governance. Chatham House Briefing Paper. London: Chatham House, 2010. NDPC (National Development Planning Commission). “Medium Term National Develop- ment Policy Framework. Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, 2010–2013.” Accra: NDPC, 2010. www.ndpc.gov.gh/GPRS/Final%20Draft%20Policy%20Framework %20092010.pdf. NDPC. “The Implementation of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda, 2010– 2013. 2011 Annual Progress Report.” Accra: NDPC, 2012. www.ndpc.gov.gh/GPRS/2011%20 APR%20-Final%20Version(November,%202012).pdf. NDPC. “Mission Statement.” Accra: NDPC, 2013. www.ndpc.gov.gh/. Nelson, Peter, and Sean Doolan. “Ghana: Strategic Environmental Assessment and its Evolu- tion.” In Strategic Environmental Assessment in Development Practice, edited by the OECD. Paris: OECD, 2012: 69–73. DOI: 10.1787/9789264166745-en. UNDP (UN Development Programme). “Ghana’s track record on sustainable development is a mix achievement.” UNDP News, May 11, 2012. www.undp-gha.org/design/presscenter/ news&event.php?id=240. UN SEA (United Nations High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All). “Ghana Leads on Sustainable Energy for All.” New York: UN SEA, 2013. www.sustainableenergyforall.org/ actions-commitments/country-level-actions/item/60-ghana-leads. World Bank. Ghana: Country Environmental Analysis. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7568.

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World Bank. World Development Indicators (WDI). Access to electricity (% of population), 2009. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. World Bank. World Development Indicators (WDI). GDP per capita (PPP); GDP growth (US$); Inflation; Population growth, 2009–2012. 2012. http://data.worldbank.org/country/ ghana#cp_wdi.

Interviews were conducted from February 25 to February 28, 2013 in Ghana by Armando García Schmidt and Laura Burke. Dimple Roy of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) conducted basic research in advance of the interviews. The authors alone take responsibility for the content and views expressed in this report. We would like to thank everyone in Ghana who took the time to speak with us: Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, Director of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy, Accra; Daniel S. Amlalo, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Accra; Theo Anderson, Director, Friends of the Earth – Ghana, Accra; Samuel E. K. Anku, Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Accra; Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Accra; Omolara T. Balogon, Policy Advocacy Of- ficer, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Accra; Jeremias Blaser, Deputy Country Di- rector, UN Development Programme, Accra; Emmanuel Boon, Chief Executive, International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED), Accra; Mac-Jordan Degadjor, So- cial Blogger and Writer, Accra; Lambert Faabeluon, Director, Manufacturing Industry Depart- ment, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Accra; Haruna Iddrisu, Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Accra; Millicent Nken-Anh Iddrisu, General Manager, International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED), Accra; Kamil Kamaludeen, Country Di- rector, UN Development Programme, Accra; Nana Kofi, Media Analyst and Policy Researcher, Danquah Institute, Accra; Rudolph S. Kuuzegh, Director, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Accra; Adjei-fosu Kwaku, Deputy Director, Plan Co-ordination Division, Na- tional Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Government of Ghana, Accra; Christo- pher Kwasi Manu, Administrator/Technical Co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth – Ghana, Accra; Dante Mossi, Senior Operations Officer, The World Bank, Accra; Winfred Nelson, Principal Analyst, National Development Planning Commission, (NDPC), Government of Ghana, Ac- cra; Kwame A. Ninsin, Emeritus Professor and Scholar-in-Residence, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Accra; Annette Lohmann, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stif- tung, Bamako/Mali; Franklin Oduro, Deputy Director and Head of Research & Programs, Ghana Center for Democratic Development, Accra; Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister, Ministry of En- vironment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Accra; Kareff Rafisura, Climate Risk Manage- ment Practitioner, UN Development Programme, Accra; Renate Schimkoreit, Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Accra; Torsten Schlink, Head of Programme, Programme for Sustainable Economic Development (PSED), Innovative Insurance Products for the Adaptation to Climate Change (IIPACC), GIZ Office Accra; Mahu Seth, Manager Re- newable Grid Electricity, Ministry of Energy, Accra; Harry van Dijk, Deputy Head of Mission, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, Accra; Zakaria Yakubu, Programme Coordinator, Civil Society & Governance, Kasa Ghana, Accra.

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