Research has shown that African countries risk experiencing more disasters if issues of climate change are not addressed.
The research conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change cites disasters such as recurrent floods as well as severe and longer droughts which will lead to food insecurity and political crisis.
These were revealed at a technical workshop on the Volta Basin Flood and Drought Management Project which is discussing how to incorporate flood and drought management systems in the development agenda of countries that make up the Volta Basin Authority.
The research which has been ongoing since 2012 also shows that citizens of countries such as Ghana, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire which make up the Volta Basin Authority, will suffer significant damages due to climate change.
It is therefore important for those countries to collaborate and implement plans that serve the interest of all member countries.
Director of Observatory of the Authority, Dr Rafatou Fofana Adam said national Meteorological and Hydraulogical Agencies of member countries need to be resourced and developed for early detection of disasters.
In Ghana, the project is being led by the Water Resources Commission with support from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and National Disaster Management Organisation.
Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission, Ben Amponsah said aside from collecting data to use as a baseline, disaster Management Institutions will be resourced with equipment.
The project which started in 2019 will end in 2022.
STORY BY DOREEN AMPOFO