AGN Chair urges action-driven tracking and reporting on inclusive climate adaptation in Ghana’s agriculture

Climate experts, government officials, and agricultural stakeholders convened in Accra for a three-day workshop aimed at enhancing inclusive climate adaptation tracking and reporting within Ghana's agriculture sector. The event, organized by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES), the University of Cape Town, along with Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeks to bolster capacity and align national reporting with global standards.

The workshop takes place against the backdrop of climate change challenges, such as unpredictable weather patterns, droughts, and increasing temperatures, which pose significant risks to Ghana's rainfed, smallholder-dominated agriculture. During the opening remarks, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), stressed that monitoring adaptation efforts must transcend mere paperwork and provide tangible benefits to vulnerable communities.

"This is not just about reporting; it is about ensuring that our adaptation actions reach those who need them most and yield measurable results," Dr. Amoah emphasized. He pointed out that as Ghana intensifies resilience-building measures like promoting climate-resilient crops, early warning systems, and irrigation expansion, authorities must assess the real-world impact of these interventions on farmers' lives.

Dr. Amoah underscored that mere implementation of adaptation activities is insufficient; governments must demonstrate how these actions are reducing vulnerability, enhancing resilience, and reaching those most in need. He cautioned that traditional tracking methods risk neglecting marginalized groups if they are not adequately represented in monitoring systems. "If our monitoring systems fail to capture these disparities, our reports may indicate progress while leaving important segments behind," Dr. Amoah warned.

The workshop also delves into the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles into national reporting frameworks to accurately reflect the experiences of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Dr. Amoah cautioned against surface-level metrics that may overlook these critical groups. He urged the workshop participants to establish clear institutional roles, set baselines, and create structured data flows from local to national levels to ensure comprehensive reporting.

Looking ahead, Dr. Amoah called for a shift from merely meeting international reporting cycles to developing a lasting, evidence-driven system that supports climate finance and national policy. He urged participants to move beyond superficial compliance to build a robust information system that translates climate data into actionable insights for policy and finance.

"If we succeed, we will not only improve our reporting but also bridge the gap between evidence, policy, and real-world action," Dr. Amoah concluded, emphasizing the importance of aligning global climate goals with the realities of Ghana's agricultural communities.