IFC hails Ghana’s progress in green building training and certification at DfGE close-out event

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today celebrated the successful close-out of the Designing for Greater Efficiency (DfGE) programme in Ghana, marking a significant step forward in the country’s transition toward low-carbon, resource-efficient buildings.

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

Hon. Kenneth Adjei, Minister of Works and Housing delivering the keynote address at the event

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.”

Yewande Giwa, IFC Senior Country Officer speaking at the event

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.