By Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA
Accra, May 22, GNA – Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change, has urged stronger international support and financing to scale up Africa’s climate adaptation and resilience efforts.
He said Africa must move adaptation “from recognition to implementation” and from fragmented pilot initiatives to fully financed, country-owned resilience programmes, with adaptation central to the continent’s climate justice and development agenda.
Speaking remotely at the opening of the 2026 Pan African Coalition for Adaptation and Resilience (PACAR) three-day workshop in Athi River, Kenya, ahead of climate negotiations in Bonn and the road to COP31 and COP32, Dr Amoah said Africa’s negotiating position must be strengthened through clearer priorities linked to implementation.
He said climate impacts were already undermining food systems, water security, public health, livelihoods and national economies across Africa,
“Climate impacts are already affecting African farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, urban households, women, children, persons with disabilities and communities in fragile settings,” he said.
Dr Amoah noted that drought and flooding were exposing interconnected vulnerabilities across agriculture, health, sanitation, housing and local government finances.
He urged the adoption of integrated adaptation strategies to strengthen early warning systems, climate-proof infrastructure, protect ecosystems and expand social protection systems before crises escalate into humanitarian emergencies.
On climate finance, Dr Amoah criticised limited accessibility and said many funds were not reaching vulnerable communities, adding that “If adaptation is local in its impact, then finance must become more local in its delivery,”.
He also stressed that discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation under SB64 should reflect African realities, including food systems, water, health, settlements, ecosystems and infrastructure.
Dr Amoah acknowledged the role of PACAR and civil society in linking negotiations to community experiences and strengthening Africa’s negotiating voice.
He urged participants to sharpen Africa’s adaptation narrative and align negotiation outcomes with implementation on the ground ahead of upcoming climate talks.
Looking ahead to COP32 in Addis Ababa, Dr Amoah said Africa must ensure adaptation receives greater global urgency.
“COP32 must not be remembered only as a COP held on African soil. It must be a moment when the world confronts adaptation with the seriousness it deserves, and when African priorities shape the centre of the global climate agenda,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Albert Oppong-Ansah