Mahama limits Ghana's COP31 delegation to 69 people in cost-cutting move

President John Dramani Mahama has reduced the size of Ghana's government delegation to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, as part of efforts to cut public expenditure.

The conference is scheduled to take place from November 9 to 20, 2026, with only 69 individuals authorised to attend on behalf of the government.

The decision comes amid public criticism over the large number of Ghanaians who have attended previous climate change conferences under the country's delegation, with concerns that many of them were sponsored by the state.

Similar controversies were raised during COP26, COP27, COP28 and COP29, prompting questions about the size and cost of Ghana's participation in the annual international climate negotiations.

In a letter dated November 4, 2026, Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, formally approved the participation of 69 persons in this year's conference.

The approved list outlines the institutions represented and the number of delegates allocated to each.

Find below the breakdown of the institutions and their respective allocations:

1. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) – 9
2. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) – 4
3. Forestry Commission – 3
4. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – 3
5. Ghana EXIMBANK – 2
6. Ministry of Finance (MoF) – 5
7. SDGs Advisory Unit, Office of the President – 1
8. Parliament House – 3
9. Bank of Ghana (BoG) – 3
10. Directorate of Crop Services, Ministry of Agriculture – 1
11. Ministry of Food and Agriculture – 1
12. Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) – 2
13. Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources – 1
14. National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) – 2
15. University of Ghana – 2
16. Embassy of Ghana in Ankara – 3
17. Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) – 2
18. Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) – 2
19. Office of the President – 5
20. INCLUDE Knowledge Platform – 1
21. E-Waste Fund – 1
22. Ghana Maritime – 2
23. Private Person – 1
24. Volta River Authority – 1
25. Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources – 5
26. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts – 2
27. Energy Commission – 2