ESG positioned as game-changer for climate action - Elikem Kotoko

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has identified Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles as a critical tool for accelerating climate action and sustainable development in Ghana.

Speaking at the Ghana-UK Business Summit in London, Kotoko said the successful integration of environmental protection, social inclusion, and good governance into investment decisions could unlock significant opportunities for sustainable growth and climate financing.

“If we successfully align environmental integrity, social inclusion, and good governance with investment and innovation, ESG can become one of the most powerful tools for accelerating climate action and sustainable development,” he stated.

According to him, the global investment landscape is undergoing a transformation, with investors increasingly seeking opportunities that deliver both financial returns and measurable environmental and social impacts.

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Kotoko noted that Ghana is well-positioned to benefit from this trend through its vast forest and savannah landscapes, which offer significant potential for restoration, carbon reduction, and climate-related investments.

He explained that initiatives such as the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme and the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project are already demonstrating how environmental sustainability can be combined with economic development.

He added that these programmes are helping to restore degraded landscapes, reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, improve livelihoods, and strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts.

Kotoko further stressed that forests should no longer be viewed merely as environmental resources but as strategic assets capable of attracting investment and contributing to national development.

“For Ghana, forests are no longer only conservation assets; they are climate assets, development assets, and investment assets,” he said.

He expressed optimism that by leveraging its natural capital and strengthening ESG-focused investments, Ghana can attract more climate finance while creating jobs and supporting long-term economic growth.

Kotoko added that the future of climate action will depend not only on protecting forests but also on ensuring they contribute meaningfully to sustainable development and economic transformation.



ANAS/MA

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