Greening the political agenda of Ghana
Greening the political agenda of Ghana

KASA Ghana together with A Rocha Ghana engaged the media and CSOs to look at the need for political parties to incorporate Solution based approach on the need to critical look at, and bridge the gap on Environmental issues and the need to address these issues as a country. It is crucial for political parties to clearly speak on some of these issues in their manifestos and clearly link it to their activities to be undertaken.

In view of that, the media houses were briefed on some of the things the CSOs expect the political parties in the country to do to maintain the environment while going with their activities.

THE THEMATIC AREAS COVERED.

  1. Environment and Climate Change.
  2. Oil and Gas
  3. Fisheries
  4. Forest and Biodiversity.
  5. Water and Sanitation
  6. Agriculture and Agro – Ecology
  7. Environmental law and Intergenerational Security

The workshop was organized to contribute to sustainable development at national policy, subnational planning and site-based activity levels; and designed to use target media houses as a medium to promote and disseminate some of these concerns to the political parties.

Outcome

The project will have two key overall outcomes:

  1. Immediate Intended Outcome: That activities the government undertakes, that destroys the environment will be addressed as national agenda is being fulfilled, so that we will not, at the end have to critically focus on how to replenish the nature. Clear establishment of the activities in our policies as the country will enhance our activities as a nation.
  2. Wider Learning Outcome: An important further outcome is improved technical knowledge among indigenes on the impact of our activities on the Environment and what should be done to abrogate these menace.

 

Past Projects

Kasa's efforts in restoring mangrove forests to mitigate coastal erosion

The Keta lagoon tragedy is still edged in the minds of residents who helplessly watched as the sea claimed their loved ones lives, their property and even robbed their gravesites. Now, all that’s left of a once thriving community is stumps of houses and sunken hopes evident by their scowled faces. This phenomenon is unfortunately becoming common along Ghana coastlines as the sea levels rise and take claim to lives, land and property.

One of the evidence of climate change is rising temperatures which impact the sea and oceans in various ways. One is melting polar ice which leads to expansion of oceans which in turn encroach on lands such as Keta. Secondly, the high temperatures which are stored in the water exacerbates water acidity which then degrades coral reefs and even mangroves; which act as sea defense. Cases such as Keta’s can be observed world over, in coastal areas.

The Government of Ghana has responded to this recurring disaster with measures to keep the sea at bay and relocation propositions for community members. Along  Ghana’s volta region and other coastal regions, one can observe sea defense systems protecting coastlines from strong tidal waves that cause erosion, flooding, amongst other hazards. These engineered structures are fortified to ensure durability and restoration of normally for coastal communities. However, as with most man made structures, there is a lifespan to such structures.  That is why organisations such as Kasa Initiative Ghana advocate for Nature based solutions such as planting of Mangroves.

Mangroves forests not only act as sea defense but perform as carbon sinks better than terrestrial forests. Additionally, their roots create an ecosystem for marine life to start and thrive. Marine creatures such as turtles and fish rely on this ecosystem for survival in initial life stages before venturing into the deep sea. Kasa with support from IUCN and Forestry commission sought  to restore mangrove in South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The exercise, done in collaboration with youth, women and men from the communities not only identified locations for restoration but also provided seedlings and carried out the planting. The initiative also engaged community members on the importance of mangrove forest in the environment and what it takes to ensure the forests reach maturity. 

 

In previous years, communities along the coastline in the Volta region were well barricaded from tidal waves by thinning mangrove forests. However, due to livelihood activities such as mangrove harvesting, the forests are now shrinking and far apart. Smoking of fish and other seafood is common in these areas with mangrove being the preferred source of firewood. Due to this, introduction of alternative livelihood is a key component to restoration efforts to avoid a recurrence of the current where firewood heaps are aligned along the coastline and in markets. 

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