The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) has welcomed a high-level delegation from the newly established Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA), a civil society organisation championing ecosystem-based responses to climate change. The engagement formed part of AC4NCA’s broader stakeholder outreach strategy to introduce its mission and explore avenues for collaboration with government in fostering climate resilience and sustainable development.
The delegation, led by the esteemed Board Chair of AC4NCA, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, held strategic discussions with senior officials of the Ministry on aligning efforts to localise climate action through nature-based solutions (NbS). AC4NCA, though only three months in operation, has positioned itself as a pan-African platform for promoting community-led, ecologically sustainable interventions that align with both the Paris Agreement and local development needs.
Chairing the meeting on behalf of the Ministry, Mr. Dela Kemevor, Director of General Administration, extended a warm welcome to the delegation and conveyed the Ministry’s appreciation for AC4NCA’s vision and proactive approach. He commended the Centre’s emphasis on nature-based and community-driven strategies, noting their critical relevance in responding to the growing threats posed by climate change.
Mr. Kemevor underscored the important role civil society organisations can play in complementing government interventions. “Our Ministry is committed to driving resilience at the grassroots level,” he stated. “We see a strategic opportunity in this engagement with AC4NCA to integrate innovative, locally anchored nature-based solutions into ongoing programmes across the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).”
He further highlighted ongoing initiatives being implemented by the Ministry to enhance environmental sustainability and climate resilience, including mainstreaming climate change into local development plans and supporting sustainable land use practices. He expressed confidence that a partnership with AC4NCA would amplify these efforts through synergies in advocacy, implementation, and community mobilisation—especially leveraging the Ministry’s networks with traditional and religious leaders.
In her presentation, Rev. Dr. Aryee introduced AC4NCA as a pan-African civil society platform grounded in the belief that African communities possess the indigenous knowledge, adaptive capacities, and collective will to respond to the climate crisis. She highlighted the Centre’s thematic priorities, including reforestation, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and climate-smart agriculture, all tailored to respond to the continent’s unique vulnerabilities.
“Africa contributes the least to global emissions but remains among the most affected by the climate crisis,” she remarked. “At AC4NCA, we are committed to changing this narrative, not by lamenting our vulnerability, but by transforming it into action through inclusive, grassroots-driven climate solutions.”
The delegation reiterated the Centre’s commitment to social equity, gender inclusion, and youth empowerment, noting that their programming will deliberately engage women, young people, indigenous communities, and marginalised groups. These are often the most affected by climate change, yet are custodians of valuable ecological knowledge and resilience strategies.
Both parties expressed optimism about deepening collaboration in the coming months and pledged to identify immediate and medium-term entry points for joint action. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fostering strong institutional linkages that will accelerate climate action through locally owned and ecologically sustainable solutions.
Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah
(Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)