By: Peter Agengre
The Upper East Regional Economic Planner, Ibrahim Abdul-Kadir Al-Hassan, has highlighted the urgent need for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to integrate climate-conscious strategies into their development planning processes.
Delivering his keynote address at a two-day workshop on the dissemination of Ghana’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Change in Bolgatanga, Mr. Al-Hassan emphasized that climate change remains a persistent challenge largely driven by human activities.
He noted that the growing impact of erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures continues to threaten livelihoods, agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure across the region. According to him, local authorities play a critical role in translating national climate policies into practical actions that build community resilience.
Mr. Al-Hassan reminded planning officers and stakeholders that, “When we are planning development, we should be mindful of the fact that we should be mindful of the fact that there are some cross-cutting themes we need to take care of in our development efforts. Climate change is one of them, including the green economy, biodiversity, migration and the rest. Because climate change is part and parcel of us now.”
He stressed that climate adaptation measures should not be treated as standalone interventions but integrated into broader economic and spatial development frameworks.
The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of local government officials and relevant stakeholders to align district development plans with the National Adaptation Plan. Participants were encouraged to adopt proactive, data-driven approaches that safeguard vulnerable communities while promoting long-term, climate-resilient growth in the Upper East Region.
The workshop was a collaboration between the WaterAid Ghana, Environmental Protection Authority and the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council.
One Response
Great and prompt report