Accra, Ghana – In a decisive step towards strengthening Africa’s leadership in the global climate movement, the newly established African Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) has officially launched its Board of Trustees. With a mandate to champion nature-based solutions, promote climate justice, and scale up local innovations across the continent, the civil society organization is poised to become a game-changer in Africa’s climate advocacy landscape.

The launch, held in Accra on 16th April 2025, marks a bold vision for transforming climate action through Africa’s most abundant resources: its ecosystems, forests, agriculture, wetlands, and indigenous knowledge. As the climate crisis accelerates, the Centre promises to bring urgency, credibility, and local solutions to conversations and interventions too often dominated by voices outside the continent.

An African Vision, Rooted in Nature

The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action aims to champion nature-based solutions as a tool to help support the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change that are grounded in cutting-edge science, traditional wisdom, and community leadership. These include ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, community reforestation, and gender-based approaches, all designed to enhance biodiversity, livelihoods, and promote social equity and inclusion.

“Africa stands at the frontline of a global emergency it did little to cause, yet its people are paying the highest price. In the face of a changing climate and unprecedented environmental challenges, nature continues to be our most valuable ally,” said Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, Global Lead and Chair of the Centre.

He added, “Forests, wetlands, mangroves, and grasslands are not just ecological assets; they are carbon sinks, biodiversity reservoirs, and lifelines for millions of Africans whose livelihoods are intricately tied to the land.”

Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, is a Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, the Member of Parliament for the Damongo Constituency, who currently serves as the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament. With a deep-rooted commitment to environmental stewardship, he has been a vocal and passionate advocate for sustainable natural resource management, climate resilience, and sound environmental governance. His leadership has significantly shaped national policies on forestry, land use, and biodiversity conservation. He continues to play a pivotal role in championing environmental issues both locally and internationally.

An Influential Board with a Pan-African Outlook

The Centre’s newly constituted Board of Trustees brings together a diverse mix of high-level climate negotiators, public sector experts, legal minds and civil society leaders, each with long-standing experience across Ghana and the African continent.

Among them is Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, one of Ghana’s most distinguished figures, known for her exceptional blend of leadership, public service, and spiritual devotion. With more than four decades of experience across governance, mining, and civic engagement, she brings deep institutional wisdom and moral clarity to the Centre’s mission.

Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, a veteran journalist and former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, joins the board as a strategic voice on communications. Widely respected across Africa’s media landscape, his leadership will help the Centre shape compelling narratives around climate action and public engagement.

The board also includes Veronica Jakarasi, a seasoned climate negotiator and policy expert from Zimbabwe. As a lead negotiator for the African Group of Negotiators, she brings first-hand experience from international climate diplomacy and carbon finance, key for advancing the Centre’s global advocacy goals.

Winfred Osimbo Lichuma, an international human rights advocate and gender specialist with over 30 years of leadership, adds a strong gender and human rights perspective. Having worked extensively on sexual and reproductive health, social inclusion, and business and human rights across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, she ensures the Centre remains people-focused and inclusive.

Cletus Alengah, Managing Partner at S&A Law and Consultancy, brings his sharp legal mind and policy insight to the Board of the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action. With a background in litigation, corporate law, and legal compliance, he enhances the Centre’s governance and regulatory focus. He has served as Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and worked at the SDGs Advisory Unit in the Office of the President of Ghana.

Rounding out the board is Juliet Osei-Wusu (Mrs.), a solicitor and barrister of Ghana’s Supreme Court with deep expertise in law, governance, and public administration. With a decade of experience advising top levels of government, she has represented Ghana at major global climate and mining forums, including COP27, COP28, and the Mining Indaba.

With experience spanning government ministries, private sector and international development, the Board of Trustees embodies the Centre’s cross-sectoral, pan-African values connected by a shared belief that the continent’s natural systems are key to unlocking a climate-resilient future.

What Sets the Centre Apart

While many organizations in Africa work on climate change, AC4NCA stands out for key reasons. What sets the Centre apart is its exclusive focus on Nature-based Solutions (NbS); it is dedicated to scaling interventions like mangrove restoration, sustainable land use, and green entrepreneurship all rooted in Africa’s natural systems. It also boasts homegrown leadership, as it is led by seasoned African experts who reclaim the narrative by designing solutions from Africa, for Africa, guided by local realities, science, and innovation. Finally, its institutional strength is evident in its job roles, KPIs, robust communications strategy, and commitment to accountability, all of which form a solid organizational foundation for long-term impact.

Driving Action, From Communities to COPs

At the grassroots level, the Centre plans to work with farmers, women-led cooperatives, and vulnerable groups to scale up practices that protect natural ecosystems while improving incomes. At the policy level, it will serve as a think tank supporting governments to integrate nature-based solutions into national policies, green finance mechanisms, and carbon markets.

The Center also intends to play a strong advocacy role in regional and global climate forums such as the UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs), advocating for increased climate financing for African countries investing in nature-based solutions.

The Centre envisions an Africa where thriving ecosystems and resilient communities drive climate action through capacity building, governance, finance, job creation, investments, context-specific gender-based and other social equity considerations, with meaningful participation of local communities and vulnerable populations in setting a global standard for sustainability in transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Building Bold Climate Partnerships

The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action is actively seeking partnerships with development agencies, research institutions, governments, and the private sector. With the global climate finance gap widening and Africa receiving just a fraction of the funding it needs, the Centre believes collaboration is the only path forward.

The Centre is open to partnerships with governments, private sector actors, development organizations, universities, and media platforms. With its headquarters in Ghana and a continental outlook, it aims to serve as a bridge between grassroots knowledge and global action.

About the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action

The Africa Center for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) is a newly established civil society organization dedicated to promoting nature-based solutions (NbS) to address Africa’s environmental challenges, particularly in the areas of climate change adaptation, mitigation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem restoration.