The controversy over Ghana’s delegation sizes at previous climate conferences seems to have created a new challenge: limiting access to the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) for fear of political criticism.
As the world prepares for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, concerns are mounting among Ghanaian climate activists, civil society organisations, academics, researchers and other stakeholders over difficulties securing accreditation to participate.
For many, the frustration goes beyond missing another international conference. It raises fundamental questions about representation, access and whose voices matter in shaping global climate policy.
There are growing concerns that the issuance of COP badges to Ghanaian stakeholders is becoming increasingly restrictive, potentially excluding organisations and individuals whose work is central to advancing climate action.
To understand the situation, it is important to revisit the politics surrounding Ghana’s participation in previous climate conferences, particularly COP26 in Glasgow and COP28 in Dubai.
The politics behind Ghana’s COP delegation
Ghana’s participation in COP26 attracted considerable public controversy following reports that approximately 337 Ghanaians were registered for the conference in Glasgow, United Kingdom. The figure triggered widespread criticism, with suggestions that the government was spending excessively on a large delegation at a time when the country was experiencing economic difficulties.
The controversy resurfaced during COP28 in Dubai, when Ghana reportedly recorded 618 participants.
However, what was often missing from these conversations was an important distinction between the number of Ghanaians registered through the UNFCCC system and the number of people officially sponsored by the Government of Ghana.
At COP26, government officials clarified that the official government delegation comprised only 24 people. The wider figure included civil society representatives, journalists, academics, private sector participants and other stakeholders, all of whom financed their own participation or received support from independent institutions.
At COP28, of the 618 Ghanaian participants reported, 95 appeared on the official Party list, while 523 were registered under the Party Overflow category.
The fundamental problem with much of the public debate was the failure to distinguish between a country’s registered participants and its government-funded delegation.
Understanding the difference: Government-sponsored delegates and Country Badge Holders
One of the most persistent misconceptions surrounding Ghana’s participation in COP is the assumption that everyone registered under Ghana’s country allocation is sponsored by the Government of Ghana.
This is not the case.
A government-sponsored delegate is an individual whose participation, including travel, accommodation, daily allowances or other logistical expenses, is financed wholly or partly by the Government of Ghana. Such individuals are generally part of the official national delegation and may be supported with public resources to represent the country’s interests in the negotiations.
A Country Badge Holder, on the other hand, refers to a participant registered under Ghana’s Party allocation through the UNFCCC accreditation system. This category can include government officials, civil society representatives, academics, researchers, journalists and private sector actors.
Importantly, being registered under Ghana’s country allocation does not automatically mean that an individual is financially sponsored by the government. A person may secure a country badge through the national delegation process while independently financing their travel and accommodation, or receiving support from an NGO, development partner, private institution or another source.
This distinction is critical. The number of Ghanaians recorded in the UNFCCC registration system should not automatically be interpreted as the number of people whose participation was financed by the Ghanaian taxpayer.
When political criticism undermines climate action
There is nothing inherently wrong with demanding accountability over public expenditure. Governments must be transparent about resources committed to international conferences, and citizens have every right to question the cost and value of official delegations.
However, accountability must be based on accurate information.
COP is not exclusively a gathering of presidents, ministers and government officials. It is a multilateral process that recognises the contributions of civil society organisations, research institutions, indigenous peoples, youth movements, women’s organisations, the private sector and the media.
These stakeholders are not merely spectators. They conduct research, advocate policy reforms, mobilise communities, monitor climate commitments, facilitate partnerships and bring practical experiences into international discussions. Their participation at COP is often supported through independent grants, institutional budgets, development partners and personal resources.
It is therefore unfortunate when their participation is reduced to a political argument about the size and cost of Ghana’s delegation.
Fair and Inclusive Participation in Ghana’s Climate Diplomacy
There is a legitimate question Ghana’s climate authorities must answer: Are restrictions on COP accreditation driven by genuine logistical considerations or concerns about renewed political criticism over the size of the country’s delegation?
If the current approach is influenced by fears of political backlash over previous delegations under the erstwhile NPP administration, Ghana risks allowing partisan considerations to undermine inclusive climate diplomacy.
Ghana’s climate challenges, from coastal erosion to illegal mining, deforestation and biodiversity loss, require the collective expertise of government, civil society, academia, the private sector and local communities. Their participation should strengthen Ghana’s climate diplomacy, not be restricted by political sensitivities or concerns about public perception.
A call for inclusion
Ghana must move away from turning participation in international climate conferences into a partisan political contest. Political opponents should be able to demand accountability without misrepresenting the composition and financing of national delegations.
The people working to protect Ghana’s forests, restore degraded landscapes, strengthen coastal communities, and promote climate justice must not become casualties of political disagreements over delegation numbers.
As COP31 beckons, the message must be clear: accountability and inclusion are not competing objectives. Ghana can pursue both.
By: Emmanuel Ameyaw
The writer is a Project Manager at the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA)
