At the just-ended climate conference in Brazil, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) entered a new chapter with the election of Ghana’s Dr. Nana Antwi Boasiako Amoah as its Chair.
In an interview with Joyce Gyekye, Dr. Amoah, who is the Director of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation at the EPA, was full of excitement since this is the first time in the 30-year history of the Group that a Ghanaian has been elected as Chair.
On what this means to Ghana, he said it will help the country to be able to link the political and technical conversations of climate change globally on behalf of the continent, adding that Ghana will be in the spotlight in the next two years for Africa in climate negotiations.
Dr. Amoah attributed his election to hard work and collaboration. He said his first three priorities will include promoting inclusivity in the group, especially building the capacity of the youth to understand the technicalities of negotiations. He explained this, saying “ The group seems to be open to just a few people and due to the diversity of the issues, bringing in more people to help in negotiations is very important.“
Another priority he mentioned is to encourage more research into critical minerals like lithium and manganese that are needed in the just transition, since the continent holds about “ 30 percent of that green minerals in the world.” He said he will connect the technical research ideas on the critical minerals to the AU level, after which the AGN will push it at the negotiation levels.
On the question of progress made on the Adaptation Fund, Dr. Amoah said the AGN under his chairmanship will continue to champion climate adaptation financing within the UNFCCC because only 3 percent of Africa’s climate financing needs are being met. He was optimistic that Ethiopia, which will be hosting COP 32 in 2027 during which his tenure ends, will help in pursuing that.
He answered a question on the Loss and Damage Fund, saying the Fund has been launched and a board established. “The board has met about six times with what is called a Term of Reference for Funding Direct Access, which means that countries that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change can directly access funds from LDF”, he added.
For now, he stated, 250 million dollars has been earmarked as the beginner capital, and countries are being encouraged to apply when the portal is opened from the 16th of December 2025 to June 2026.
When was the African Group of Negotiators formed?
As climate change impacts intensify, the gap between those who cause the problem and those who bear the brunt the most has become impossible to ignore. African countries, among the lowest emitters, continue to bear heavy losses as wealthier nations deploy stronger systems to protect their people and economies. This imbalance is why regional alliances have become crucial in global climate talks—allowing vulnerable nations to push collectively for fair action and the support they need.
This necessitated the establishment of the African Group of Negotiators in 1995 as a formal negotiating body to represent the interests of the African continent in the international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The purpose is to give Africa a common voice and unified negotiating position in climate negotiations. It is also to represent the continent’s interests on critical issues like climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, and technology transfer, among others.
