UG, AC4NCA push nature-based solutions for Ghana’s development
The University of Ghana is set to partner a non-governmental organisation which advocates climate change and environmental issues, the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA), to strengthen climate research, policy advocacy and public engagement.
This is to reflect the two partners’ shared ambition to position nature-based solutions as a central pillar of Ghana and Africa’s development, rather than as a secondary environmental concern.
With climate impacts intensifying across Ghana and the wider continent, the proposed partnership reflects a growing recognition that universities and civil society must work hand in hand to shape policy, influence public discourse and deliver solutions rooted in nature, science and local realities.
The agreement to collaborate on this important intervention follows a meeting between the management of the university and the board of AC4NCA last Monday.
AC4NCA’s delegation was led by its board chairperson, Rev. Dr Joyce Rosaline Aryee, while the university’s management was led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
In alignment
Professor Amfo welcomed the engagement, describing it as timely and well aligned with the university’s strategic direction.
She noted that the collaboration reflects the university’s commitment to research excellence, knowledge transfer and policy relevance, adding that climate action remains a critical focus across its faculties and research centres.
“The University of Ghana is keen on partnerships that extend beyond academia and speak directly to national and continental priorities.
“Climate change, sustainability and resilience are areas where universities must work closely with civil society and policy actors to generate impact,” Prof. Amfo emphasised.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Gordon Awandare, also reaffirmed the institution’s readiness to explore concrete partnerships with AC4NCA, particularly in research and policy-oriented initiatives.
“Climate research and sustainability are core pillars of the University of Ghana’s strategic plan,” he said.
“We are actively building collaborations that strengthen climate resilience, especially for vulnerable populations, and this engagement fits squarely within that agenda.”
Prof. Awandare highlighted the university’s ongoing work under the Collaborative on Climate Resilience and Sustainability (UG-CCReS), supported by the Mastercard Foundation, which focuses on research, policy dialogue and inclusion, particularly for young women and persons with disabilities.
Nature-based solutions
Rev. Dr Aryee, briefed the university’s management about the centre’s vision and mandate, which focuses on promoting nature-based solutions through policy advocacy, research, ecosystem restoration and environmental education.
She explained that AC4NCA’s work spans ecosystem restoration, wetlands protection, sustainable forestry and landscape-level climate interventions, with a strong pan-African outlook supported by a diverse and experienced board.
“Nature-based solutions are no longer optional. They are essential development tools that can restore degraded ecosystems, protect biodiversity and create sustainable livelihoods, especially for vulnerable communities,” Rev. Dr Aryee stated.
She, on behalf of the AC4NCA, congratulated the UG Vice-Chancellor on her recent appointment as Chair of the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, a role that places her at the helm of one of the world’s most influential higher education networks.
The delegation described the appointment as a milestone for Ghana and Africa.
Public lecture
A key proposal that emerged from the meeting was the organisation of a high-level Public Lecture on ‘Nature-Based Solutions’, to be jointly hosted by the University of Ghana and AC4NCA.
It was proposed that the lecture convene global and African leaders in climate policy, conservation and development to interrogate how nature-based solutions can be integrated into national planning, infrastructure investment and climate finance frameworks.
A board member of AC4NCA, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, explained that the lecture aims to “reframe nature-based solutions as critical development infrastructure,” while also examining governance and financing pathways for scaling up impact across Africa.
