At the fourth meeting of the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) in Wa, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, stated that environmental degradation contributes to land degradation and desertification, leading to extreme poverty.
He emphasised how these actions have severely reduced agricultural productivity, making communities more vulnerable to poverty and escalating natural disasters.
“All of these unfriendly environmental activities contribute to land degradation and desertification. These problems have over the years impacted negatively on the productivity of our agricultural land, forests and water resources. The result of these is increased poverty and vulnerability, as well as natural disasters such as floods and drought,” he lamented.
“I wish to use this opportunity to appeal for all metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to embrace the project and fully support efforts of the Technical Coordinating Office and implementing agencies in establishing riparian vegetation along our major rivers (i.e. White Volta and Black Volta Rivers, etc.) and their tributaries, in accordance with Ghana’s Riparian Buffer Zone Policy of 2013,” Dr. Bin Salih said.
The Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) is building on the early experiences from integrated and sustainable landscape management of the erstwhile Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP). The GLRSSMP aims to strengthen integrated natural resource management and increase benefits to communities in targetted savannah and cocoa forest landscapes, formalise and increase accountability of artisanal and small-scale mining, improve revenue for small-scale miners and cash crop farmers.
The Project is will expectedly lead to measurable biophysical improvements in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (including the Guinea Savannah ecological zone & the upper portions of the Transitional ecological zone) as well as the cocoa forest landscape. The sub-basin approach (13 sub-basins) is to ensure improved vegetative cover, reduced soil erosion, reduced siltation and sedimentation, enhanced biological diversity conservation, improved landscape connectivity and carbon capture.
As the meeting went on, Mr. Asher Nkegbe, Upper East Region Regional Director-Environmental Protection Agency, stood on the stage to describe the multimodal strategy used to fight the evil of land degradation. He highlighted that every endeavour is a critical step in bringing life back to the country and guaranteeing a better future for everybody.
Presentations continued throughout the day, each revealing new strategies and advancements in the ongoing fight against deterioration. The project’s vast scope was evident from the wide range of innovative approaches, ranging from community-led watershed efforts to integrated water resource management plans.
There was a strong air of optimism in the room during these discussions, with unwavering determination to pave the way for a greener, more prosperous future despite the obstacles that lay ahead.
Stakeholders from the Upper East, North East and Savannah Regions converged for a critical union in Ghana’s fight against environmental decay.
