Implemented
by IFC with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
(SECO), the three-year programme has delivered exceptional results across
universities, professional associations, technical institutes and the wider
construction ecosystem.
Since
its launch in 2022, the DfGE programme has strengthened technical expertise in
sustainable building design, supported curriculum adoption, and expanded
climate literacy among Ghana’s next generation of architects, engineers and
construction professionals. Ghana has emerged as one of the strongest
performers among the five DfGE countries, alongside Colombia, Peru, Indonesia
and South Africa.
Through
DfGE, five universities, one professional association, and one technical
institute have integrated green building training into their programmes. A
total of 30 trainers were prepared to deliver the curriculum, while 254
students and professionals successfully completed the course. Of this number,
67 women participated, reflecting increasing gender inclusion in a sector
traditionally dominated by men.
Beyond
classrooms, the programme engaged over 870 participants through nationwide
workshops, awareness activities, and three zero-carbon design competitions. IFC
has confirmed that the DfGE online course, updated to align with the latest
global EDGE standards, will remain accessible beyond the programme’s close-out
to ensure continuity of knowledge and long-term sector impact.
“Ghana’s
implementation has been nothing short of remarkable. The sustained interest
across universities, professional bodies and industry demonstrates the
country’s readiness to scale green building practices. The skills developed
through DfGE will support Ghana’s transition to a low-carbon future while
creating opportunities for innovation, jobs and climate-smart growth,” Yewande
Giwa, IFC Senior Country Officer.
At
the event held in Accra last week, IFC also announced that Ghana has surpassed
1 million square metres of EDGE-certified green building space, the highest in
West Africa. More than 81 projects across residential, commercial and public
facilities have attained certification, reflecting growing market demand for
energy-efficient, water-saving and climate-resilient buildings.
According
to Paul Ocran, IFC Green Building Lead for Ghana, this milestone positions
Ghana as the sub-region’s leader in green construction. “EDGE has helped
demonstrate that efficient, climate-responsive buildings are financially viable
and technically feasible. Ghana’s achievement sends a clear signal that the
market is shifting decisively toward sustainability,” he said.
Representing
SECO, Magdalena Wüst, Head of Cooperation, praised Ghana’s leadership and the
strong uptake of the DfGE curriculum. “Switzerland is proud to have supported a
programme that empowers students, faculty and practitioners with the skills to
design and deliver low-carbon buildings,” she said. “This is not the end, but
the beginning of deeper innovation and sustainable growth.”
Testimonials
from educators, students and practitioners highlighted how the DfGE course has
transformed technical capacity, strengthened climate literacy, and positioned
young professionals to drive Ghana’s green building movement forward.
In
his keynote remarks, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, Minister for Works, Housing
and Water Resources, reiterated the government’s commitment to embedding
sustainability in national housing and construction policies. He stated that
buildings contribute significantly to global energy use and emissions and
stressed the need for Ghana to adopt more resilient, resource-efficient models
as urbanisation accelerates.
The
Minister commended IFC and SECO for their “visionary support” and reaffirmed
that the Ministry will continue working closely with industry, academia and
development partners to scale sustainable solutions. “Tonight marks the
beginning of a movement. The expertise cultivated here will shape Ghana’s built
environment for decades to come,” he said.
With
the successful close-out of the DfGE programme, Ghana now has a strengthened
ecosystem of trained professionals, updated academic curricula, and growing
private-sector adoption of green building practices. IFC will continue to
collaborate with the government and sector stakeholders to expand climate-smart
investment and support the transition to a resilient, low-carbon construction
sector.
About
IFC
The
International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private-sector arm of the World
Bank Group. It focuses on promoting economic development by supporting private
sector growth in developing countries. IFC provides investment, advisory, and
asset-management services to businesses and governments, helping to create
jobs, strengthen sustainability, and reduce poverty.
Its
work includes:
· Providing loans, equity investments, and
guarantees to private businesses.
· Offering technical and advisory support to
improve business environments.
· Supporting climate-smart and sustainable
development projects.
· Mobilizing private capital for large-scale
development initiatives.
IFC plays a key role in accelerating economic growth, strengthening infrastructure, and driving innovation across emerging markets.
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