Ghana is strengthening its readiness to participate in international carbon markets through a master class aimed at building a pool of skilled professionals to develop, register, and trade high-quality carbon credits.

The initiative seeks to expand national capacity by equipping institutions and individuals with the technical skills required to participate effectively in the market.

Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Authority, said at the opening of the training on Thursday, January 22, 2026, that the global surge in carbon market activity presents Ghana with a major opportunity to unlock revenue, attract renewable energy technologies, and improve livelihoods, especially among vulnerable groups.

The training is the second in the series, with nearly 50 participants from Ghana and Nigeria signed up to take part.

“The carbon market is trending worldwide, and Ghana has a huge carbon credit potential we can trade for money and for renewable energy technologies that will help the country and its citizens,” Prof. Klutse said.

She noted that Ghana has already established a Carbon Market Office and gained practical experience by transferring its first Authorised Emission Reductions (ITMOs) to Switzerland under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Dr. Daniel Tutu Benefoh, Lead of the Ghana Carbon Market Office, is guiding participants through the fundamentals of compliance and voluntary carbon markets, Ghana’s emerging institutional arrangements, and the technical requirements for generating tradable carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

He explained that beyond policy frameworks, successful participation in carbon markets largely depends on human capacity, including skills in measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), project design, registry systems, and contract negotiation.

Dr. Benefoh said Ghana has made progress in setting up systems to authorise and track carbon transactions, a step expected to attract credible investors and protect national interests in future trades.

He added that the training is intended to reduce knowledge gaps that have limited African countries’ participation in global carbon markets, despite the continent’s significant mitigation potential in sectors such as forestry, clean cooking, renewable energy, and waste management.

“Developing local expertise will help ensure that carbon projects deliver real emissions reductions while generating revenue for communities and supporting national development priorities. The ultimate objective is to build an African carbon market of high integrity,” he said.