Ghana Policy LINK Activity through the Feed the Future (FtF) has organized a durbar to create awareness of climate change and its impact on the people of the Tilli community in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.
The awareness campaign included informative sessions and community dialogues and was facilitated by experts in climate science and environmental sustainability, such as the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The residents were educated on the causes and effects of climate change, emphasizing the need for collective action to mitigate its impact on livelihoods and the environment.
Dr. Gerald Forkuor, Climate Change Lead, Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK Activity, said his outfit conducted an assessment of people’s knowledge of climate change, its impact, and how to reduce it, and it was realized that much needs to be done, hence the need to engage the locals on climate change.
“People are not aware that their very actions are contributing to climate change, and so, we are doing this sensitizations to make people aware of sustainable practices that they could adopt and that would reduce climate change.”
The awareness creation by Policy LINK in communities in some regions comes after world leaders met in Dubai to discuss climate action. Dr. Forkuor entreated the community members of Tilli to reduce the number of trees cut for firewood, stop bushfires, and adopt practices such as tree growing and reducing tillage, which release organic soil.
The Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK Activity is a five-year activity supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The USAID Feed the Future initiative focused on regions such as the Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Northern regions that formed a Zone of Influence.
The community sensitization on climate change was under the theme, ‘mobilizing communities for climate action: building resilience together”. Eric Maasole, the Upper East Regional Manager of Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK indicated that the awareness creation seeks to promote behavior change at the local level by enhancing the ability of community members to cope with and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
“The program is designed not only to raise awareness but to initiate tangible actions and community-driven solutions to adapt to the changing climate. The Action Plans will guide community members to adopt practices that protect the environment, such as forest conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, water resource management, and avoiding bush burning,” Mr. Maasole added.
In a speech, District Chief Executive for Bawku West, Tahiru Issahaku Ahmed, commended Policy LINK for the initiative to create awareness of climate change and its impact. He, therefore, called for attitudinal change to combat climate change.
On behalf of the chiefs and people of Tilli, the assembly member for the Tarakom electoral area, Isaach Anongwin, said climate change is fast approaching the community, and the sensitization will go a long way to reducing its impact.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Tilli|Ghana
