By Rebecca Asheley Amarh, GNA
Accra, March 30, GNA – The Ghana Climate Centre of Excellence (GCCE) has been launched to serve as a national and regional hub for climate research, knowledge exchange, policy dialogue and coordinated action towards climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
The centre is expected to bring together government institutions, development partners, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector to strengthen Ghana’s collective response to climate change.
Ms Chauncia Willis Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of GCCE, said the initiative was designed to provide a platform for learning, collaboration and practical solutions to climate-related challenges.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), she explained that the centre would offer opportunities for students, government agencies and other stakeholders to acquire knowledge on climate change and its impact on communities.
She said one of the flagship programmes of the centre would be the “Youth Climate Call”, aimed at educating young people on sustainable environmental practices, including tree conservation, fisheries management and nature-based solutions.
Ms Johnson emphasised the need for inclusive participation, particularly encouraging women to take up active roles in climate advocacy and leadership.
She noted that increasing women’s involvement in climate discourse would strengthen interventions, as women often played key roles in community development and environmental stewardship.
“This centre will serve as a research and learning hub for all those interested in climate change advocacy. It is important that people equip themselves with knowledge and data to help address the challenges we face,” she said.
She urged the public to take advantage of the centre’s resources to better understand climate issues and contribute to sustainable solutions.
Mr Seidu Issifu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, described the establishment of the centre as timely and necessary, given the growing impact of climate change on Ghana’s development.
Mr Issifu noted that rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, flooding and drought were already affecting livelihoods, food security, and economic stability across the country.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a present and pressing challenge. Communities across Ghana are already experiencing its effects,” he said.
He stated that the centre would play a critical role in generating practical solutions, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and empowering communities to adapt to climate change.
He added that the centre would also enhance capacity building and innovation in climate response efforts and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to climate action in line with national priorities and international obligations, including the Paris Agreement.
Mr Issiful highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the promotion of renewable energy, sustainable land use, and climate-smart agriculture.
He, however, stressed that effective climate action required strong partnerships, noting that institutions such as the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM) brought valuable perspectives by integrating inclusion and emergency response into climate strategies.
He said such approaches would ensure that vulnerable and marginalised populations, who were often the most affected by climate change, were not left behind.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/George-Ramsey Benamba