CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT BEGINS IN WEST MAMPRUSI

(Daily Graphic, Nov 23, 2011, Page 22)

THE implementation of a project intended to mitigate the effects of climate change in parts of the West Mamprusi district of the Northern Region has kick-started.

The project, christened ‘Fighting climate change through reforestation’, would attempt to restore the vegetative cover protecting parts of the Volta River Basin through reforestation activities in the Zuoh and Mishio areas.

The implementation of the project would span a period of nine months on a pilot basis, beginning from October, 2011 and would be extended to other communities along the White Volta River when successful.

The Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), a German-based foundation, and the West Mamprusi District Assembly have partnered to implement the project.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the HSF and the assembly at a short ceremony that was witnessed by other stakeholders, including the Forestry Services Division, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Zasilari Ecological Farms Project.

The Project Co-ordinator, Mr Issifu Sulemana told the Daily Graphic that under the project, the HSF was expected to provide financial, logistical and institutional support for the implementation of the project, whiles the district assembly and other decentralised departments would provide administrative and other technical support.

“We expect the two beneficiary communities to provide land, labour and other necessary assistance to ensure smooth take off and completion of the project,” he stated.

Mr Sulemana mentioned that the two communities selected for the project, Zuah and Mishio, were relatively small farming and fishing communities, where the impact of climate change could be more severe due to the destruction of tree vegetation in those areas.

“The continual depletion of tree vegetation has affected rainfall and soil moisture necessary to support crop growth. The once thick tree vegetation fringing the rivers and serving as a home for the fauna and some flora is no more. Flood waters now spread wildly and the effects are very enormous,” he noted.

He entreated the community folk to endeavour to own the project and lead its implementation so as to reap the expected benefits.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Mamprusi, Mr Issifu Adam lauded the initiators of the project, noting that many communities in the district stood the risk of being devastated by the effects of climate change.

He said the district was battling with several environmental challenges such as bush fires, over grazing, drying of water bodies and deforestation.

“The district assembly would monitor closely the implementation of this project and so I entreat all other partners to do their part,” he stated.

The Director of HSF for West Africa, Mr Ralf Wittek reiterated the commitment of his organisation to help marginalised and vulnerable communities to cope with the effects of climate change.

He reminded the implementing partners that they must work to ensure the success of the project because it was the German tax payer’s money which was being committed to help poor indigenes in Africa.