PROFILE OF AKYAMFOUR ASAFO BOAKYE AGYEMANG-BONSU (ASAFOHENE)
Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu was enstooled as the Asafohene/Akwamuhene, and Head of the Akwamu Traditional Divisional Council, Kumasi on 17 December 2020. Before his swearing as the Asafohene, he was known in private life as William Kojo Agyemang-Bonsu.
Mr. William Kojo Agyemang-Bonsu was a diplomat and Manager for Mitigation and Transparency Support Sub-programme of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. Since July 2010, Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu managed the Secretariat’s provision of technical assistance to developing countries in the areas of preparation and implementation of climate change mitigation actions including nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA) and measurement, reporting and verification under the Convention, and lately the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the enhanced transparency framework and implementation of low emissions development strategies under the Paris Agreement. He as well managed the Secretariat’s on supporting to all Parties, in particular, developing country Parties, in addressing the impacts of implementation of climate change mitigation actions (response measures), including by providing support for economic diversification and transformation initiatives, and just transition of the work force and the creation of decent and quality jobs. Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu is currently working with developing countries to transition to zero greenhouse gas emitting societies by promoting the transitioning to hydrogen-based economies.
Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu has had tremendous professional career. Before joining the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat in July 2010, Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu has served in various positions within the Ghana Government service since 1982 when he did his national service. In 1987 to 1990 he was a senior tutor at Prempeh College, Kumasi, Ghana teaching Advanced Level Chemistry.
He was the National Climate Change Focal Point and the CDM Designated National Authority (DNA) for the Republic of Ghana from 1998 to June 2010. During this period, he was also Ghana’s Lead Negotiator on Climate Change and the National Focal Point for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and, Director and Head of Energy Resources and Climate Change Department of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana.
Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu has served in various positions at the international level, including being the First Vice chair for the UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) 2001-2002 and the Chair for 2002 – 2003 and member of the reconstituted EGTT, Alternate Member (Non-Annex I) of the Adaptation Fund Board, Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board Accreditation Panel, up 2010. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the Nairobi Framework (2006-2008) and Member of the Coordinating Committee for the DNA Forum (2005 – 2007). Lead negotiator for the Group of G77 and China on Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Actions under the Convention (AWGLCA) agenda items on development and transfer of technologies.
Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu has also participated in developed countries’ (Annex I) inventory reviews as expert and lead reviewer of greenhouse gas inventory under the Convention as well as the Kyoto Protocol from 2001 to 2010. He was the Rapporteur and Bureau Member for the Eleventh Conference of Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP 11) and the First Conference of Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 1). Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu was the Vice President and Bureau Member for COP 12 and CMP 2 and COP13 and CMP 3. He chaired the different contact groups under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) including the contact group on adaptation of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Climate Action (AWGLCA) in 2009.
Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu has authored numerous publications and was the coordinating lead author for the Industrial Processes and Product Use section of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and a Lead author for the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Capture and Storage. As a coordinating lead author for the IPCC, Mr. Agyemang-Bonsu contributed to the award of the Noble Peace Price to the IPCC in 2007. His latest publication on “Cities in the context of climate change: Opportunities for local authorities in climate action in Africa” is published in the book “Smart Economy in Smart African Cities” published by Springer in March 2019.
He holds a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering from the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology.
He is married with two children and blessed with two grandchildren.
