The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has appointed six individuals from different constituencies, for the NAP Process, Nana Akyaemfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang Bonsu, Asafohene representing the Traditional Constituency, Mr Kofi Yeboah, General Secretary representing the Ghana Journalists Association (Media), the Reverend Cyril Fayose, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, with Dr Abubakari Muhammad Marzuq, Special Aid to the Chief Imam and Lt. Col. Sena Affanyi, from the Ghana Armed Forces, Mr Kofi Don-Agor, the President of Climate Communications and Local Governance-Africa, representing Local Governance is an Ambassador with a special responsibility of coordinating the Ambassadors.
The NAP Ambassadors Programme, a key component of the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process, is important for the country because 1) it focuses on building resilience of vulnerable communities through evidenced-based and stakeholder involvement processes; 2) it works using existing national and sub-national development structures; 3) it is a locally-led process using a variety of non-market approaches to drive adaptation investment; and 4) it accommodates traditional & indigenous knowledge. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), the EPA coordinates the NAP process with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Since 2018, the EPA has been coordinating the NAP process that seeks to develop a consolidated plan for vertical and horizontal integration. One of the key pillars of the NAP process is the climate ambassadors’ initiative, which leverages the influence of key stakeholders to promote climate action.
The ambassadors are expected to project the need for cross-sectoral climate change adaptation planning and implementation in Ghana; highlight progress on adaptation planning at both national and sub-national levels, and influence sectoral project planning and implementation to integrate adaptation plans across all levels.
They would also project opportunities and resources needed for equitable planning implementation processes; advocate enhanced gender issues in climate action at all levels and help to sustain momentum on climate change adaptation on media platforms.
The Executive Director of EPA, Dr Krugu said climate change was redefining the global socio-economic agenda and that countries needed to pay attention to interventions that would promote adaptation to the crisis to ensure sustainable development.
He said that given that climate change had a ravaging impact across sectors, it was important for stakeholders to collaborate to implement cross-cutting interventions to respond to the crisis.
“The ravages of climate change are real and evident in the droughts, flooding, and higher temperatures we experience. It remains the greatest threat to achieving the sustainable development goals, and we must work to address it,” Dr Krugu said.
The Coordinator of NAP, Dr Antwi Boasiako Amoah, said the ambassador initiative was crucial to climate action as it ensured the deployment of a multifaceted approach to tackling the crisis.
He urged the ambassadors to work together in a coordinated manner to help mobilise both material and human resources for climate action, particularly adaptation.
