By: Kingsley Attitsogbui
A five-year project on Strengthening Investment in Gender- Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) in Ghana has been launched in Ho.
The project which is a transformative initiative aimed at advancing climate change action and inclusive governance in Ghana, aligned with the Feminist International Assistance Policy of Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
It seeks to enhance the resilience of Ghanaian citizens, especially women, girls and vulnerable groups, by promoting increased investment in inclusive and gender-responsive climate adaptation initiatives.
The project which is being funded by Global Affairs Canada, will be implemented by the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) and Cowater International in collaboration with Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA).
The project will be implemented in five Districts/Municipal Assemblies in Ghana. Two Districts/Municipal Assemblies in the Volta Region and three in the Northern Region respectively.
The Founder of the Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA), Nana Kugbeadzor Bakateyi II, said climate change is a global issue as it confronts everybody especially girls and women across the World.
She said all stakeholders must work closely in getting a better forecasting as an urgent measure for sustainable development.
Madam Patricia Blankson Akakpo, Head of Network of Women Right (NETRIGHT) urged participants to carefully observe their lifestyle as globalisation and civilisation contribute to climate change.
She noted that while climate change affects both sexes equally, it is not dependent on gender.
She observed also that farmers lose a lot of revenue these days because of lack of data collection that determines rainfall pattern on when to plant.
Madam Cynthia Sunu, Programme s Officer at NETRIGHT, said the project will improve the resilience of Ghanaian citizens, particularly women, girls and vulnerable groups, through increased investments in inclusive and gender responsive climate investments in inclusive and gender responsive climate.
“Thirty years of records show a severe deterioration of the climate in Ghana, and this will likely worsen in the future” she added.
She further stated that climate change adversely affects agriculture, livelihoods and food security and its impact grow in severity from the coast toward the northern savannah.
“It also negatively affects access to water, infrastructure and increases disease transmission” she stressed.
She indicated that the Northern and the Volta Regions where SIGRA will be implemented are among the most exposed to climate change risks in Ghana.
She said despite well-established Public Financial Management (PFM) systems, insufficient access to climate finance, domestic budget constraints, and competing priorities result in insufficient funding for climate adaptation in Ghana.
She said Municipal/District Assemblies to benefit from the programme will work closely with women-led Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the various districts as grant will be released in October/November 2023 after the selection of assemblies that will meet the criteria.
Source: www.ignewss.com|Ghana