Climate Change

The Embassy has collaborated with the Water Resources Commission (WRC) on climate change related projects since 2009.

The WRC was established with the mandate to regulate and manage Ghana’s Water Resources and co-ordinate government policies in relation to them. The mandate stipulates that ownership and control of all water resources are vested in the President on behalf of the people, and defines the WRC as the overall body responsible for water resources management in Ghana.

The Embassy and the WRC have initiated a new collaboration on the project called Climate Change, Flood Risks and Mitigation, and Contingency Planning in Northern Ghana. The project is set to run over a 2-year period starting from January 2012 and it is estimated to cover a budget of DKK 5.000.000.

Background for the project:

Within the three northern regions flooding in the White Volta River Basin have become annual tragedies since 2007. The lack of contingency planning including information dissemination, reliable early warning systems and availability of resilient infrastructure has undermined adaptation and community resilience. This project has been developed from the lessons learned from the now finalised climate adaptation project: Climate Change Adaptation in Water Resources Management in the three northern regions of Ghana. Some of the lessons learned were that, (i) improved flood management and resilient water infrastructure are necessary elements of a successful adaptation to an environment marked by environmental- and climate change, (ii) catchment protection will enhance ecosystems, livelihoods resilience and human security.

Climate Change, Flood Risks and Mitigation, and Contingency Planning in Northern Ghana

The lessons learned, which the new project is based on, encompasses two focus areas: (i) To move towards increased water security and resilience in the context of environmental- and climate change. This means ensuring sufficient quality and quantity of water for health, productive uses and ecosystems, minimising water-related risks to people and environments. And (ii) to move towards enhanced assistance to biodiversity and forest ecosystems, make growth processes sustainable, reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (in line with the UN-REDD programme) and thus mitigating the impacts of climate change.

If biodiversity and ecosystems are conserved they will support the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services (e.g. water resources), prevent disasters and enhance poor peoples’ livelihoods and increase their resilience to climate change. As the three northern regions are flooded or water stressed due to climate change it puts other natural resources at risk of productivity loss. Hence, specific activities in the project will include buffer zone creations through plantation of trees, early warning systems, enhanced water conservation infrastructure, improved strategies for the preservation of biodiversity, community-based flood planning and capacity building in order to enhance people’s management of water resources.

Examples of facilities constructed through the WRC projects

Surface water storage in Nakong Community in the Upper East Region. The dug-out is constructed with the purpose of harvesting rain water for watering of livestock. Prior to the construction of this facility the members of the community had to drive their livestock to a river at a distance of 10-11 km. away from the community in the dry season.

The crucial challenge to the Pindaa Community in the Upper East Region is shortage of water for household consumption. A hand dug well providing clean water to the community was therefore constructed.

The Pindaa River, which used to contain water all year, is today dried out in the dry season. The drying-out of the river is a result of less precipitation and farming close to the river banks, which has resulted in siltation. The WRC project has therefore in cooperation with the Pindaa Community established a tree nursery containing mango trees that are planted at the river banks to create “farming-free” buffer zones near the river banks.

Rooftop water harvesting facility in Sandafong Community. The immediate need of the people living in the Sandafong Community was to secure the presence of water for domestic use and for livestock, which led to the establishment of the rooftop water harvesting facility. The rain water will be harvested from the roofs of the public buildings in the community and will be led via pipes to the water storage facility shown in the picture.