Maame Afua Nhyira Quaicoe , Gideon Yenuban Laary , Emmanuel Gyamfi Kofi Ntow,
Yen Adams Sokama-Neuyam, Akwasi Adu-Poku , Joseph Oppong Akowuah , Francis
Kemausuor
Executive Summary
Climate change poses urgent threats to Ghana’s socio-economic stability, food security, and ecosystems. Achieving the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 15% by 2030 and the 2070 net-zero target requires aggressive deployment of all viable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies. To achieve these ambitious targets, the country must maximize the use of all available carbon sinks to capture and store anthropogenic emissions. Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is a high-potential CDR approach which has not yet received adequate attention in Ghana despite its promising mitigation potential. This policy brief presents preliminary findings on the potential for ERW in Ghana. Preliminary assessments indicate that the country has favorable conditions for ERW deployment, including a tropical climate that accelerates silicate weathering and abundant, accessible geological resources. These resources include high-purity olivine deposits in the Aketakyi Ultramafic Complex and widespread basalt, which can be sourced sustainably from mine tailings in the gold sector, establishing a low-cost supply chain for ERW implementation. Beyond climate mitigation ERW offers substantial cobenefits. It can improve soil fertility, enhance alkalinity, supply essential crop nutrients, strengthen food security, generate rural employment, and create revenue opportunities through verified carbon credits in global markets. Strategic investment and policy support for ERW can thus position Ghana as a regional leader in sustainable CDR deployment while simultaneously advancing climate resilience and economic development.