Ghana Green Building Summit 2025 convenes national and international stakeholders

The 6th Ghana Green Building Summit took place in Accra. Over 300 stakeholders attended, including government officials, academics, and private sector representatives. They discussed the importance of sustainable buildings for Ghana's future.

The theme was ‘Reimagining Buildings and Cities for Economic and Social Prosperity’. The Summit encouraged dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. The main message was that sustainable buildings should be affordable for everyone.

Cyril Nii Ayitey Tetteh convened the Summit. He emphasized that sustainability means longevity, resilience, and inclusion. “Sustainability is all about continuity,” he said in his welcome address.

Government Commitment to Sustainable Housing

Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, delivered keynote speeches. He affirmed the government's commitment to green building practices in national policies. “We are integrating green building principles into our housing strategies,” he stated.

He highlighted the District Housing Programme as a key initiative. This program aims to provide sustainable homes in rural areas using local materials. He acknowledged that affordability varies from person to person.

Climate Policy and Strategic Coordination

Hon. Issifu Seidu spoke about Ghana’s climate response strategy on behalf of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability. He cited alarming World Bank projections about climate-induced economic losses by 2050. “Climate change is impacting livelihoods and infrastructure now,” he said.

He urged builders to design cities with vision and purpose. “Let us design cities that breathe and endure,” he noted.

Technical Insights from IFC EDGE

Paul Kwesi Ocran from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) presented on green building in Ghana. He stressed that sustainable design can be affordable for everyone. “Your home can also be green,” he said.

Ocran shared examples from Accra and Tamale showing energy savings through low-tech designs like reflective roofing.

Public Sector Innovation Supporting Young Designers

John Sheriff Bawah from State Housing Company Limited emphasized redefining affordability in housing. He noted that definitions vary widely among individuals regarding what is affordable.

Bawah praised the summit for connecting technical expertise with youth innovation. Joel Jojo Osam Mensah won the 3rd IFC EDGE Student Design Competition with his project ‘Nɔte Dan’ (Earth House). His design achieved over 50 percent savings in energy usage.

Bawah offered him a job opportunity at State Housing after his presentation.

International Perspectives on Green Finance

Yewande Giwa from IFC recognized support from the UK government for promoting green finance across Africa. She posed a question: “What if every new building met the EDGE standard?”

Vera Owusu-Osei discussed how legal frameworks can support environmental priorities at the summit. Richard Sandall from the British High Commission stressed that green buildings are essential, not luxurious.

Looking Ahead

The Summit concluded with partners committed to creating affordable, inclusive cities one home at a time. It featured six panel discussions on various aspects of sustainable development in Ghana.

Panel topics included ‘The Business Case for Green Affordable Housing’ and ‘Unlocking Climate Finance’. Other panels focused on public spaces management, ESG business cases, renewable energy solutions, and resilient city frameworks.

About Ghana Green Building Summit

Established in 2017, GGBS assesses Ghana’s green building needs annually. It has hosted many high-profile speakers over its five editions so far. In recognition of its impact, it won Green Event of the Year at the 2019 Ghana Property Awards.

GGBS has partnered with IFC EDGE to organize student competitions and workshops for professionals in construction fields. Its focus has expanded beyond thought leadership to include developing a green project pipeline and supporting innovators.

Starting in 2025, GGBS will evolve into the Ghana Green Summit to cover all aspects of sustainable development comprehensively.