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Traditional authorities appeal for more support from development partners

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Traditional Authorities are appealing for support from development partners to address age-old problems like bush burning and the cutting down of economic trees such as shea and rosewood tree species.

A speech read at the Inception workshop on the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) Project in Wa by the Vice President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa Dikomwine Domalae, said the effects of harmful environmental practices have become more evident and directly impacting the livelihoods of communities members thus the need for more ‘out of the box’ strategies to tackle the problems.

Naa Domalae who deputised for the President of Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton, therefore commended the EU and its partner, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for the implementation of the Resilience Against Climate Change REACH Project.

The Resilient Against Climate Change (REACH) program is being funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with GIZ Competitive Cashew (ComCashew) Initiative, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture MOFA along with the 11 Municipal and Districts Planning Units in the Upper West, 1 in the Savannah and 2 in the North East Regions as implementers.

The implementation will however begin on pilot basis in the Lawra, Jirapa and Sissala East Municipalities along with the Nadowli-Kaleo and Wa West Districts in the Upper West Region.

The pilot implementation would also include the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savannah Region.

The overall reach project is expected to run for seven years with a total budget of 19.5 million Euros.

Naa Domalae said from all indications, the impoverishment of the people in the Northern half of the country, particularly the Upper West Region will continue until measures are taken to stop the harmful environmental practices.

“There is no gain saying issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation are very real and we need immediate and pragmatic steps to save the future of our environment. The Upper West Region is from all climate indications very fragile and sensitive,” he said.

The Vice President of the Regional House of Chiefs stressed: “rainfall patterns have changed and its impact on farming is greatly felt,” adding that, “in this part of the country, especially in the Upper West Region, the shea tree is an economic tree that most people depend on for their livelihood. I will therefore on behalf of  the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs appeal to implementing partners to assist develop the shea sector by creating the right environment for shea plantation farming, processing and marketing  to boost the income levels and economic wellbeing of the citizens; especially women.”

In a speech read on his behalf, the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih said government is committed to addressing mitigating the effects of climate change on the livelihoods of people resident in the region by distributing 1.6 million cashew seedlings for planting under its Tree Crop Programme dubbed the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD).

Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih

“This was done due to challenges posed by climate change; it was therefore crucial that Ghana developed sustainable strategies for mitigation. Cashew as we all know, besides its economic importance has the potential to withstand climate change effects,” he said.

The Regional Minister disclosed that 897,431 cashew seedlings have been distributed to more than 15,000 farmers in 550 communities across the region.

Dr Hafiz Bin Salih indicated that Ghana had also adopted a National Climate Change Policy “which aims at ensuring adaptation to climate change to help communities cope with its impact and respond positively to various international mechanisms on enhanced mitigation action including low carbon growth”.

The Deputy Director at the Regional Department of Agriculture, Huudu Abu, said the research component of the REACH programme is key as it would help stakeholders in agriculture understand and tackle peculiar problems facing the agriculture ecosystem in the region.

UWR Deputy Regional Director for Agriculture, Huudu Abu

“Agricultural activities and agribusiness development need to be increasingly seen and adapted to its specific context, economic, social and environmental conditions. It requires great understanding of the dynamics on household and community level to impact on overall livelihoods; especially in North West Ghana,” he said.

The REACH Project Lead, Florian Winckler, said as part of the REACH program, communities would be allowed to apply for funding to support community led programs.

Project Lead, REACH, Florian Winckler

“What we will be doing is working together with Districts on improving the planning to have elements of mitigating the effects of climate change integrated into the plans and on the basis of this, we will jointly with the communities establish an Activity Fund. We will provide the communities the opportunity to apply for smaller projects that they can implement in their various communities,” Mr Winckler explained.

The Inception Workshop was attended by some 60 participants drawn from the 6 pilot Municipalities and Districts.

Mr Winckler named some of the initial beneficiary communities as Saan, Sampina, Janguasi, Brefor Maal Duori and Nabulo. Others are Siiru, Naha, Buka and Uro. He said the programme is currently in its 2nd year of implementation.

An Official with the GIZ Climate Policy Support Programme, Elisa Romanato, said the climate study for identifying and weighing adaptation strategies in Ghana’s agriculture sector at the national level would be scaled down to the Municipal and District level to help address its peculiar issues.

Official with GIZ Climate Policy Support Program, Elisa Romanato
REACH Project Manager at EU delegation to Ghana, Susana Martins

The Project Manager, REACH, at the EU delegation to Ghana, Susana Martins, stressed the need for synergy during the implementation of the project. She said it is critical that funds are used judiciously to ensure the success of the program.

Story filed by Mark Smith.

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