By Adelaide Benneh PREMPEH
As climate change accelerates, the private sector can no longer wait for governments to lead on adaptation.
Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions call for US$22.6 billion in climate investments by 2030, with only US$6.3 billion expected from domestic sources. The rest must come from international climate finance—a gap that threatens the livelihoods of millions.
At the 7th Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program Forum in Accra, the urgency was clear. Backed by the World Bank and others, the African Development Bank and Global Centre on Adaptation announced plans to mobilize US$25 billion over five years. Finally, financing ambitions are beginning to match the scale of the crisis.
That urgency drove my firm, B&P Associates, to join the UN Global Compact this year—not as charity, but as strategy. Ghana’s economy depends on climate-vulnerable sectors like agriculture, energy, and SMEs.
We can either act now to build resilience—or be forced to react to rising seas, erratic rains, and mounting disruption. The UN Global Compact offers a roadmap, but it’s execution that matters—especially for translating commitments into local impact.
Why climate resilience is a business and societal priority
Ghana’s story is Africa’s story: economic sectors exposed, small businesses under-resourced, value chains vulnerable. Adaptation isn’t optional. For companies, resilience is survival.
Ghana’s economy is deeply intertwined with sectors highly sensitive to climate change; agriculture, energy, infrastructure, mining, and small businesses. These sectors are more than just economic drivers; they are vital to the livelihood of millions. Yet, they face mounting risks:
Agriculture:
Agriculture employs approximately two-thirds of our workforce in Ghana and contributes to about 20 percent [3] to GDP. However, the sector faces extreme weather; erratic rains, droughts, floods, that threaten food security and livelihoods.
In 2020 alone, droughts caused an estimated US$95 million in damages. Projections indicate that by 2050, annual losses could reach US$325 million[4].
Energy:
With hydropower providing about a third of electricity, Energy is vulnerable to rainfall variability. Past droughts, like the 2003 crisis, cut power output by 40 percent, showcasing how climate impacts threaten our energy security[5].
Infrastructure:
Roads, dams, and urban drainage, are increasingly failing under extreme weather, risking billions in investments and access to essential services [6].
Fisheries and Mining:
These sectors are also under threat, with warming waters disrupting fish stocks and water-dependent mining operations under climate stress. It is envisaged that by the year 2050, fish catch potential may fall by at least 26 percent, threatening coastal livelihoods and food supply chains [7].
The mining industry though less highlighted in climate discourse, is not immune. This is because the industry relies heavily on water and energy inputs; both of which are increasingly under climate stress.
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs):
SMEs which constitute about 92 percent of all businesses in Ghana [8], are highly exposed to economic shocks driven by supply chain disruptions, energy instability, and infrastructure breakdowns. These businesses often lack the resources to adapt and are especially vulnerable to cascading climate impacts that erode consumer demand, increase costs, and stifle growth.[9]
Beyond the numbers, we see the human toll: rising poverty, health crises linked to climate-related diseases, and communities caught in the cycle of vulnerability.[10]
Climate change is not a distant threat, it is happening now, and the vulnerable who are most affected are often the least equipped to adapt.
The private sector’s crucial role in driving change
While international agencies and government initiatives are vital, the real game-changer is how we, as a nation and as business leaders, mobilize the private sector and local communities. It is about turning dialogue into action: at the grassroots level, where resilience really takes root.
Talking in boardrooms is simply not enough. Climate impacts farmers, urban residents, small business owners, and underserved communities on a daily basis. Indeed, many do not realize how urgent these issues are or what they can do to contribute. Thus, empowering the communities and businesses with the right legal frameworks, incentives, and knowledge is key.
How can legal and business leaders make a difference?
Let me begin by focusing on lawyers, as I am naturally aligned with this profession. Our role as legal professionals and business leaders is critical. The International Bar Association’s (IBA) 2020 Climate Crisis Statement offers a roadmap—highlighting how law firms and companies can lead the charge[11]. These are key take-ways:
- Embed Climate Risk into Business Advice: Assist clients in sectors like agriculture, energy, and mining in assessing legal, financial, and reputational risks. Encourage investments in sustainable technologies and climate adaptation strategies.
- Promote Transparency and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Standards: Guide companies, especially SMEs, to disclose climate-related risks and adopt best practices in governance. Transparency builds investor confidence and strengthens resilience.
- Support Dispute Resolution and Community Engagement: Offer pro bono services to communities facing land, water, or environmental conflicts. Ensuring access to legal support can prevent social unrest and protect livelihoods.
- Advocate for Climate-Friendly Policies: Participate in shaping laws that promote renewable energy, sustainable land use, and resilient infrastructure. Removing legal barriers is essential for a just transition.
- Invest in Capacity Building: Foster environmental and climate law education within our legal community. The future of resilient legal practice depends on continuous learning and adaptation.
Lead by Example: Adopt sustainable practices within our lawto firms—reduce office energy use, minimize travel, and support eco-friendly procurement. Small actions drive cultural change.
Turning principles into action: Key pillars for lasting impact
To make meaningful progress, I believe there are some crucial pillars to guide our efforts to walk the talk:
Transparency: There is the need for open and transparent policies, clear data, and honest reporting to foster trust and smarter resource allocation.
Access to Finance: Small businesses and vulnerable communities must be provided with affordable tools and funding to implement resilience measures.
Inclusiveness: We must ensure marginalized voices are heard, and resources are distributed fairly, making resilience strategies relevant and effective for all. This to my mind is of fundamental importance.
Partnership and Trust: We need to build strong collaborations across sectors; government, business, civil society; moving beyond siloed approaches, with a firm commitment to long-term resilience efforts.
The urgency is now; Lead by example
The climate crisis is no longer a future concern; it is a present reality. The choices we make today; our policies, investments, and community actions, will determine the future resilience of our dear nation.
As professionals, leaders, and citizens, we have an ethical and strategic duty to act. The path to enhanced climate resilience offers a multitude of opportunities, but success requires collective effort and decisive action.
We must all roll up our sleeves, lead with purpose, and act with both urgency and conviction, ensuring that responsibility and resilience serve as guiding principles for our shared future.
Our Firm is committed to being part of the solution and has already embarked on this critical journey; helping clients, communities, and policymakers turn commitments into tangible, community-driven impact.
We do hope you will join us.
ADELAIDE is the Founder and Managing Partner of B&P ASSOCIATES, Lawyers and Consultants, a Corporate and Commercial Law firm located in the heart of city of Accra; Dual Qualified Barrister and Solicitor of 24 years experience from jurisdictions of Ghana, and England & Wales; Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers; Legal Consultant at World Bank Group; Member of the Ghana Football Association Disciplinary Committee; Licensed Insolvency Practitioner; Certified Data Protection Supervisor; Notary Public of Ghana; Advocacy & Legal Ethics Lecturer, Ghana School of Law. www.bpaghana.com
[1] I would like to acknowledge the research contribution of Peter Korsi Simpson to this article.
[2] The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). It aims to mobilize $25 billion, over five years, to accelerate and scale climate adaptation action across the continent.
[3] United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Ghana Climate Change Report. 2023. Report Number: GH2023-0008 7 June, 2023 https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Ghana%20Climate%20Change%20Report%20_Accra_Ghana_GH2023-0008.pdf (Accessed: 20 May 2025).
[4] World Bank Group. Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) Ghana, October 2020 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/9c9764c1-076d-5dcc-8339-6e4f0de2b610/content (Accessed: 20 May 2025).
[5] Arndt C, Asante F, Thurlow J. Implications of Climate Change for Ghana’s Economy. 2014. WIDER Working Paper 2014/020. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER. https://doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2014/741-7(Accessed: 20 May 2025).
[6] Ibid
[7] World Bank. Climate Change and Marine Fisheries in Africa: Assessing Vulnerability and Strengthening Adaptation Capacity. 2019 World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33315 (Accessed: 20 May 2025).
[8] Ghana Commercial Bank. Ghana SME Sector Report. 2023. Available at: https://www.gcbbank.com.gh/research-reports/sector-industry-reports/361-sme-sector-in-ghana-2023-v1/file. (Accessed: 21 May 2025)
[9] Ibid
[10] The World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report (2022)
[11] International Bar Association. Climate Crisis Statement. May 2020 https://www.ibanet.org/medias/822C1967-F851-4819-8200-2FE298164922.pdf? (Accessed: 19 May 2025)
