The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA) has urged the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to ensure that nature-based climate solutions are incorporated into Ghana’s short, medium and long-term development frameworks. This, according to the Centre, will promote sustainable development and ensure that our development does not compromise the environment.
This call was made when leadership of AC4NCA, led by its Board Chairman, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, paid a high-level visit to NDPC on Monday, May 26, 2025. NDPC is a body established under article 87 of Ghana’s Constitution to advise the President on development planning, policy and strategy. The purpose of the engagement, therefore, was to discuss possible ways of collaboration to integrate nature-based solutions into Ghana’s national development frameworks.
Dr. Joyce Aryee highlighted the rapid destruction of the environment, and its devasting impacts on lives and livelihoods across the various ecological zones of our country, particularly, the poor and vulnerable. She underscored the urgent need to address climate change, and the centrality of nature-based solutions in the fight against climate change.
She said AC4NCA was focused on advancing nature-based solutions such as afforestation, reforestation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, and land management tailored for smallholder farmers, mitigation and adaptation strategies, to address climate change across the African continent. She expressed the Centre’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s development priorities through sustainable, nature-based approaches. Dr. Aryee added that AC4NCA was committed to actively engaging in policy advocacy and raising public awareness on the benefits of nature-based solutions in development and environmental planning.
On her part, the Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, welcomed the delegation and expressed the Commission’s appreciation to the Centre for recognizing the pivotal role NDPC plays in national development in general, and the fight against climate change in particular. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the discharge of their mandate.
Dr. Amoah said one of the greatest challenges confronting the Commission was financing, which hinders the full realization of the Commission’s environmental initiatives. She said the Commission has been working with CSOs and NGOs to explore innovative funding mechanisms, including access to global climate financing opportunities. She welcomed the initiatives being pursued by AC4NCA and said the Commission was ready to work with AC4NCA to realize its mission while promoting national development.
This courtesy call marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership between AC4NCA and NDPC, with both parties aligned in their vision to build a climate-resilient, sustainable future for Ghana through innovative, nature-driven solutions.
For further information, please contact:
Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA)
Email: info@ac4nca.org
Website: www.ac4nca.org
Phone: +233 595 838 797
#ClimateAction #NatureBasedSolutions #AC4NCA #SustainableDevelopment #LocalGovernance #GhanaClimateResilience
