Bold reforms needed to achieve climate justice-GIMPA Law Dean

The Dean of the GIMPA Law School, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, has sounded the alarm on Ghana’s escalating climate emergency, warning that the nation could lose up to 10% of its Gross Domestic Product by 2050 unless urgent legal and policy interventions are made.

Addressing participants at the 2025 GIMPA Law Conference on Climate Justice, Dr. Agyeman-Budu described climate change as a pressing and immediate danger. He emphasized that the legal community must take the lead in developing sustainable frameworks to protect Ghana’s environment and its most vulnerable citizens.

Under the theme "Climate Justice in Ghana: The Role of Law and Policy Towards Sustainable Development," the two-day forum brings together legal scholars, policymakers, and environmental advocates to evaluate Ghana’s current legal stance on climate issues and to propose strategies for a more inclusive and resilient future.

While acknowledging Ghana’s progress through initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the National Climate Change Policy, Dr. Agyeman-Budu noted that existing frameworks still lack the strength to protect marginalized groups such as women, children, and low-income communities.

In response, GIMPA Law School unveiled plans to revamp its academic programs, incorporating climate law and policy into both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. The institution also announced the upcoming launch of a Climate Law and Policy Research Centre aimed at supporting evidence-based research and providing specialized training for judges, lawmakers, and climate advocates.

Delivering a keynote address, H.E. Samira Bawumia, former Second Lady of Ghana and Global Champion for the Clean Cooking Alliance, applauded the initiative. She stressed that achieving climate justice requires targeted interventions for women and children, who bear the brunt of climate-related hardships.

Mrs. Bawumia also advocated for greater investment in clean energy access, gender-sensitive legislation, and grassroots-led environmental efforts.

The conference is set to produce key recommendations for legal reform and stronger institutional mechanisms to tackle climate threats nationwide.

Other notable attendees included the Deputy Rector of GIMPA, Prof. Ebenezer Adaku, and the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Hon. Baba Issifu Seidu.