By Wonder & Co.
On April 1, 2026, Ghana hosted a technical workshop in Accra on solar radiation modification (SRM), making it the first African nation to do so for the continent. SRM is a controversial climate technology that carries many uncertainties. The event was organised by Ghana’s Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability (OMCCS) in partnership with the Degrees Initiative and the African Climate Intervention Research Hub (ACIRH), which largely funded the workshop.
The meeting brought together policymakers and scientists from across Africa to explore the potential regional implications of SRM. While officials acknowledged the risks and uncertainties associated with SRM, they stressed that climate-vulnerable nations must understand the science to have a voice in future global debates about the topic. Conversations at the workshop adopted a learning-first approach and did not create or endorse any SRM policy position.
Honourable Minister Seidu Issifu, First Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, opened the event by stating that while emissions reductions remain a priority, the “deeply concerning” global climate gap necessitates Ghana developing its own evidence base for climate interventions.
ACIRH served as the scientific voice at the engagement, convening a strong cohort of researchers from across the continent, several of whom are Degrees-funded, to share expertise on the science and governance of SRM and to guide discussions on how these technologies might intersect with regional priorities such as agriculture and health.
Contributing researchers included Dr Portia Adade-Williams (CSIR, Ghana), Dr Francis Nkrumah (University of Cape Coast, Ghana), Prof. Franklin Opijah (University of Nairobi, Kenya), Dr Chris Lennard (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Dr Victor Ongoma (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco), Prof. Vincent Ajayi (Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria), Dr Abdoulaye Ballo (IPR/IFRA, Mali), and Ms Trisha Patel (University of Cape Town, South Africa).
The convening marks the start of a broader journey for Ghana’s engagement with SRM. As Dr Portia Adade-Williams put it, “Ghana and Africa must engage early,” adding that “the who and how in SRM is critical”. Insights gathered in Accra will feed into a roadmap for future engagement, and the meeting stands as an important pilot for shared learning, ensuring that as Ghana continues to evaluate its position in regional and global climate dialogues, it does so informed by the latest evidence generated by African experts, with ACIRH continuing to champion the scientific side of that work.
Further reading:
Ghana hosts first technical workshop to build national expertise on solar radiation modification. https://degrees.ngo/ghana-hosts-first-technical-workshop-to-build-national-expertise-on-solar-radiation-modification/. Accessed 14 July 2026
