GAYO holds National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Just Transition
The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), a youth-led environmental and climate change advocacy non-governmental organisation, has held a National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Just Transition in Ghana.
The one-day consultative workshop, held in Accra last Thursday (July 17), provided stakeholders with an opportunity to explore the full potential of the Just Transition principle—not only as a social safeguard but as a driver of ambitious climate action—as the country advances towards its third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The event aimed to co-develop recommendations for integrating just transition components into NDC 3.0, including workforce reskilling, pathways for the informal sector, and gender-inclusive programming. It also sought to highlight research insights on labour market gaps, risks faced by informal workers, and governance challenges regarding transition minerals in mining-affected communities.
Held under the theme “Reskilling and Workforce Transformation as a Key Driver of Ghana’s NDCs,” the event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society organisations, private industry, informal labour groups, and youth-led organisations to co-create pathways that embed just transition into Ghana’s climate policy architecture, while drawing lessons from the country’s Energy Transition and Investment Plan.
Promoting transparency
Speaking at the event as Guest Speaker, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, called for extensive dialogue with all stakeholders as the country transitions to a low-carbon economy.
According to him, such engagements would help build trust, promote transparency, and foster effective collaboration and partnerships in the implementation of green interventions.
Dr Pelpuo noted that the Ministry is committed to promoting green jobs at both the national and sub-national levels.
“Government has demonstrated a great deal of commitment by developing and implementing the National Green Jobs Strategy to create platforms, build capacities, and institute measures that will organise and harmonise ongoing green interventions through effective coordination,” he said.
The Minister further indicated that the ongoing Ghana-EU Pact for Skills project is complementing the implementation of existing green initiatives. He added that the Ministry would continue to play its role in ensuring that green job interventions are effectively coordinated and aligned to support the growth of green enterprises.
Focus
For her part, the Operations and Programmes Director of GAYO, Mrs Betty Adjei, emphasised that the development of the country’s third NDC was a reminder that climate ambition must be matched by equity, inclusion, and justice.
“This dialogue on advancing a Just Transition within Ghana’s NDC 3.0 is not just about updating targets—it is about reshaping the narrative. It’s about ensuring that our climate commitments reflect the real lives and struggles of people on the ground,” she said.
Mrs Adjei lamented the vast disconnect between African countries and the rest of the world in climate change and environmental sustainability discussions.
“It was a space for global reflection, but it still reminded me of the critical gaps that remain. One moment struck me deeply: while the world discusses green industrialisation, Africa’s informal systems—from waste pickers to youth-led recyclers—are still absent from the policy tables shaping our shared future. That disconnect was loud,” she said.
Affirming GAYO’s firm belief in an inclusive transition, Mrs Adjei stated that Ghana’s shift to a green economy must reflect the realities, aspirations, and voices of all Ghanaians, particularly those historically excluded from climate conversations.
She urged stakeholders to challenge themselves to move beyond ambition and towards implementation, as the country reflects on Ghana’s Energy Transition and Investment Plan.
