Adaptation fund project launched in Bolgatanga


The Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation with funding from the Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat and in partnership with the UNDP, has launched the Adaptation Fund Project in Bolgatanga. 

The aim of the project is to protect major river basins in Northern Ghana. 

In an interview with Radio Ghana’s Samuel Ayammah in Bolgatanga, the Adaptation Fund Project Coordinator, Peter Derry, said managing freshwater bodies in Ghana is currently an urgent and significant development issue, since most rivers and streams are drying up due to climate change. 

He said recognizing the importance of improving the protection of buffer zones of river basins, enhancing water access and increasing institutional capacity and coordination for integrated water management in Ghana, prompted the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to initiate the Adaptation Fund Project. 

According to him, the project will increase resilience to climate change in the Northern Regions of Ghana through the management of water resources and diversification of livelihoods.
 
Mr. Derry said the Adaptation Fund project is a four year project, spanning 2016 to 2020 with the aim of building resilience and adaptive capacity of rural livelihoods to climate variability through improved management of water resources and diversifying livelihoods in rural communities in ten districts of the three Northern Regions of Ghana.
 
Mr. Derry mentioned Savelugu, Bole and Zabzugu in Northern region, Bawku Central, Bongo, Bawku West and Builsa North in the Upper East region and Nandom, Nadowli and Sissala East in the Upper West region as districts to benefit from the four-year project.
  
He mentioned traditional authorities and opinion leaders and religious leaders as members of the implementing committee.
 
He stated that the committees are expected to delineate projects communities along the river basin and of major roads, provide support to protect them from bushfires, restore and manage them as community natural resources for livelihood and enhancement of ecological functions of the buffer zone.
 
The Committees, he noted will also intensify capacity building, education, and training of all stakeholders and ensure their commitment to the conservation of the buffer zones.
 
The project will develop comprehensive management and investment plans for the White, Black and Oti river basins to take into account climate change impacts and needed interventions.
 
Mr. Derry disclosed that the project will promote four types of adaptation intervention including Livelihood enhancement, Livelihood diversification, Ecosystem protection and enhancement and Community level water infrastructure planning. 

According to him, these approaches will also build up financial, natural, physical and social capital of the communities.


GBC