Mahama Calls for Climate Grants to Protect Vulnerable Economies

President John Dramani Mahama has called on developed countries to provide predictable, non-debt-creating grants to help climate-vulnerable nations respond to the growing impact of climate change.

Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, President Mahama said Africa contributes less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but continues to suffer some of the most severe effects of climate change.

He described climate justice as an issue of global equity and urged developed countries to meet their long-standing financial commitments to vulnerable nations.

“Climate change is the ultimate test of global equity,” he said.

President Mahama cited Ghana’s recent deadly floods as an example of the worsening climate threat. He said torrential rainfall on June 29, 2026, dumped more than 160 millimetres of rain across seven coastal regions within 24 hours, resulting in 39 deaths and leaving one person missing.

According to him, the incident underscored the urgent need for stronger international support for countries facing climate-related disasters.

He noted that African countries continue to grapple with erratic rainfall, coastal erosion and accelerating desertification despite their relatively low contribution to global 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.

The President argued that the global response to climate change must go beyond pledges and include financing mechanisms that do not further increase the debt burdens of vulnerable developing economies.

“Climate justice demands that developed nations fulfil their long-overdue financial commitments,” he said, adding that mitigation support should be provided through “predictable, non-debt-creating grants, not loans that further indebt fragile economies.”

The call comes as climate action, resilience and financing remain key issues at the UN General Assembly. A high-level meeting on sea-level rise was also scheduled for September 24 to discuss coordinated and adequately financed responses to the growing threat.

President Mahama further warned that climate change is manifesting through a range of extreme events, including melting glaciers, droughts, extreme heat, wildfires and hurricanes.

He urged the international community to recognise the disproportionate burden faced by developing countries and increase financial support for both climate adaptation and mitigation.

The President also linked climate resilience to global health security, calling for stronger public health systems capable of responding to emerging threats.

He advocated increased regional production of vaccines and therapeutics, stronger epidemic surveillance systems and greater investment in resilient public health infrastructure across the Global South.

According to President Mahama, these measures should be pursued in line with the principles of the Accra Reset.