At the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII) Steering Committee meeting, African leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto and U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, convened to discuss strategies for advancing green industrialization. The meeting, held alongside the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, emphasized Africa’s potential to meet global climate goals through sustainable resource management and collaboration among member states.
Representing Ghana, Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Alex Amparbeng attended on behalf of Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam. He affirmed Ghana’s support for the AGII, calling it a platform for accelerating investment and growth in Africa’s green economies. Dr. Amparbeng noted, “This will undoubtedly create more opportunities for decent and greener jobs for our citizens.”
He highlighted two key areas for success: harmonizing fiscal policies across African nations to avoid unfair competition and strategically leveraging Africa’s role in the global critical minerals sector to support green industrialization. Dr. Amparbeng posed a critical question: “How do we ensure that the critical minerals we control effectively fuel our green growth agenda?” He stressed the importance of value addition to these minerals in policy frameworks.
The meeting reviewed AGII’s proposed structure and institutional setup, with discussions focusing on positioning Africa at the forefront of green industrialization. The Steering Committee also prepared for upcoming global engagements, including COP29 and the African Union Commission meeting in February 2025, where a single African market will be a key focus.
Kenyan President William Ruto, U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, and other leaders emphasized the need for research-driven green growth, industrial collaboration, and knowledge sharing to leverage Africa’s natural resources for sustainable development. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of enhanced coordination and collaboration among African countries to accelerate green industrialization and ensure Africa’s critical role in the global transition toward sustainability.
The 79th UNGA, themed “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity,” runs from September 22 to 27, 2024, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
