Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri Constituency, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has tasked the government to ensure that Ghana’s emerging carbon credit market is governed with strong policies that prioritize national development, environmental integrity, and community benefits.
Delivering a statement in Parliament on Thursday under the theme, “Carbon Credit Market: Another Excellent Opportunity for Ghana to Get It Right,” the Chief Whip said Ghana had already laid a solid institutional foundation through the Ghana Carbon Market Office under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to him, the office provides the country’s institutional framework to support Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, voluntary carbon market activities, mitigation project development, project authorization, monitoring, reporting and verification, as well as registry operations and corresponding adjustments.
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National development
He described the development as a significant national opportunity capable of attracting investment while helping Ghana achieve its climate goals.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh stressed that carbon credits should not be viewed merely as tradable environmental commodities but rather as a strategic tool for national development.
“The carbon credit market must not be treated merely as a trading platform for emissions reductions. It must be treated as a national development instrument,” he told Parliament.
He explained that Ghana’s carbon market should focus on delivering measurable emissions reductions, attracting private sector investment and generating tangible benefits for local communities.
Calls for clear regulations
The Chief Whip urged government to strengthen policy certainty by making approval processes more transparent and efficient.
He said investors and project developers require predictable timelines, reasonable fees and clear distinctions between Article 6 transactions, voluntary carbon market projects and domestic carbon activities.
According to him, regulatory clarity will improve investor confidence and accelerate project implementation.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh cautioned against authorizing carbon credit transactions that could undermine Ghana’s own climate obligations under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
He warned that carbon credits are directly linked to the country’s international climate commitments, biodiversity, land rights and future development opportunities.
“We must not sell cheap today what we may need tomorrow to meet our own NDC targets,” he emphasized.
High-integrity carbon projects
The Chief Whip also warned against weak carbon projects that have undermined confidence in global carbon markets through inflated claims, double counting and poor stakeholder engagement.
He said Ghana must insist on high-quality projects that demonstrate environmental integrity, transparency and equitable benefit-sharing.
He stressed that local communities, traditional authorities, farmers and landowners must be fully consulted before projects are implemented.
According to him, every project should include free and informed participation, effective grievance mechanisms and fair distribution of benefits.
Carbon investment
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh proposed that government deliberately promote carbon projects in sectors capable of reducing emissions while creating jobs and supporting economic development.
These include renewable energy, methane reduction, landfill gas management, regenerative agriculture, forest restoration, mangrove conservation, climate-smart irrigation, public transportation, industrial energy efficiency and water purification.
He said carbon financing should complement Ghana’s employment, food security, energy transition and local economic development agendas.
Local expertise
The Chief Whip also advocated the development of local expertise in carbon finance.
He called for the establishment of a National Carbon Finance Academy in partnership with the EPA, universities and the private sector to train Ghanaian professionals in project design, carbon accounting, legal contracting, registry management and financial structuring.
He argued that Ghana should reduce dependence on foreign consultants by investing in local technical capacity.
Strengthen carbon registry
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh further urged government to strengthen the Ghana Carbon Registry to accurately monitor mitigation projects, carbon credit issuances, transfers, cancellations, retirements and corresponding adjustments.
He said the registry should be fully digital, transparent, secure and integrated with Ghana’s national greenhouse gas inventory and climate reporting systems.
Improve institutional coordination
The Chief Whip acknowledged the existing governance framework involving the Ministry responsible for Environment, the EPA, the Carbon Market Office, the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Carbon Market Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee.
However, he said these institutions require adequate resources and stronger political support to ensure decisions are taken promptly.
“Carbon market decisions should not sit in files for months,” he remarked.
Ghana as Africa’s green finance leader
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said Ghana should leverage its existing bilateral partnerships and growing pipeline of mitigation projects to become Africa’s trusted hub for credible carbon assets.
He urged the government to welcome investors with proven technical capacity and long-term financing while rejecting speculative projects that lack sustainability.
He, however, warned that poor governance could expose Ghana to unfair contracts, speculation and loss of national value.
“If properly governed, the carbon market can position Ghana as a leader in Africa’s green transition,” he said, adding that Ghana should remain open to carbon market investment only under conditions that safeguard environmental integrity, community rights, national interests and sustainable development.