Accra Ghana, 1st July 2026
HON. DR. KANDEH KOLLEH YUMKELLA APPOINTED PATRON OF WASCAL
Former UN Under-Secretary-General to champion West Africa’s climate action, resource mobilisation and just energy transition.
WASCAL is pleased to announce the appointment of Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella as Patron of the organisation. The honorary and non-executive appointment recognises Dr. Yumkella’s distinguished leadership and extensive international experience in sustainable energy, industrial development, climate advocacy and sustainable development.
As Patron, Dr. Yumkella will serve as a high-level advocate and strategic adviser for WASCAL. He will support the organisation in strengthening its engagement with governments, regional and continental institutions, development partners and financing institutions, while promoting strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation.
The appointment was welcomed by Her Excellency Dr. Diaka Sidibé, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Republic of Guinea and Chair of the WASCAL Council of Ministers, who expressed her appreciation to Dr. Yumkella for accepting to serve.
“On behalf of the WASCAL Council of Ministers, I warmly thank Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella for accepting to serve as Patron of our institution. His stature and dedication to Africa give us great confidence, and I look forward to working hand in hand with him to overcome the challenges before us and to advance WASCAL’s mission across our region.” H.E. Dr. Diaka Sidibé, Chair of the WASCAL Council of Ministers
Professor Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, Executive Director of WASCAL, described the appointment as an important milestone in the organisation’s development.
“Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella’s appointment comes at a defining moment for WASCAL and West Africa. His leadership, international standing and commitment to sustainable energy and development will help connect WASCAL’s scientific capabilities with political commitment, strategic investment and high-level partnerships. His engagement will support the organisation in scaling its impact, strengthening its long-term sustainability and contributing more decisively to the region’s climate resilience and just energy transition.” Professor Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, Executive Director, WASCAL
In his inaugural statement, Dr. Yumkella expressed his appreciation for the appointment and described the responsibility as a call to service.
“WASCAL symbolises the strength of West African scientific excellence and regional cooperation in responding to some of the most urgent challenges facing our region. Its scientific expertise, human capital and regional networks position it to inform policy, attract investment and generate tangible benefits across West Africa.” Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Patron of WASCAL
He further noted that his engagement will focus on strengthening WASCAL’s influence in regional and continental decision-making, opening pathways to strategic partnerships and sustainable financing, and championing a just energy transition and the next generation of African scientific leadership.
The appointment supports WASCAL’s ambition to consolidate its position as a trusted regional and continental institution for climate science, climate services, renewable energy, green hydrogen, capacity building and sustainable development.
About the Patron
Dr. Yumkella brings more than 30 years of international leadership and development experience to the role. He is a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Chair of UN-Energy, the founding Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and a former Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). He also served as Minister for Trade, Industry and State Enterprises of Sierra Leone. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), and ECOWAS Special Envoy for the West Africa Regional Integration and Investment Summit. Throughout his career, he has been a leading global advocate for universal energy access, industrial development and climate action, working at the highest levels of government, the United Nations, business and academia.
About WASCAL
The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is a West African intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Accra, Ghana. It provides comprehensive climate change solutions through capacity building, research and innovation, climate and environmental services, and the promotion of green hydrogen and renewable energy. Since its inception in 2012, WASCAL has trained over 700 West African PhD and Master’s degree holders through its graduate studies programmes and has mobilised significant resources for climate research and capacity building across the region. WASCAL operates a dedicated Competence Centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and works across its member states to strengthen the region’s resilience to climate change.
WASCAL welcomes Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella to this distinguished role and looks forward to working with him to strengthen the organisation’s regional impact, continental influence and long-term sustainability.
Media Contact WASCAL Communications Division Email: info@wascal.org; press@wascal.org Website: www.wascal.org
