Ghana has launched a $63 million climate-resilience project aimed at restoring 14,000 hectares of degraded land and strengthening the livelihoods of communities facing worsening droughts, floods and declining soil fertility in northern Ghana.
The seven-year Climate-Resilient Landscapes for Sustainable Livelihoods in Northern Ghana (CRLSLNG) project will cover 120 communities across the North East, Upper East and Upper West regions.
The initiative is financed by the Green Climate Fund and accredited through the United Nations Environment Programme.
It is expected to directly benefit more than 690,000 people through climate-resilient farming, improved water management and alternative livelihood opportunities, while an estimated 2.9 million people are expected to benefit indirectly from improved climate resilience.
Water management is a central component of the project, with the Water Resources Commission (WRC) expected to lead interventions aimed at protecting water resources and strengthening sustainable management of targeted river basins.
These measures will include riverbank protection and reforestation to reduce erosion and siltation, as well as improved monitoring of groundwater and surface-water abstraction, storage and recharge.
Speaking at the launch, Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Minister Samuel Nartey George stressed the importance of linking landscape restoration with effective communication and early-warning systems.
He called for drought and flood alerts to reach farmers in real time and in local languages so they can take timely action to protect crops, livestock and livelihoods.
The initiative comes as northern communities face growing climate-related pressures, including erratic rainfall, drought, flooding, soil degradation and threats to agricultural productivity.