A group photograph taken during the workshop
The Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana has held a district-level stakeholder workshop as part of activities by the “DEltas, vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation” (DECCMA) Project. The event was attended by Municipal and District Chief Executives, traditional rulers, the media and other stakeholders in the Volta Delta area.
In her welcome address, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Cynthia AddoquayeTagoenoted that the purpose of the workshop was to inform stakeholders about the almost five-year project and interact with them. She indicated that the workshop was an opportunityto deliberate on the project with stakeholders, tap into their knowledge and experiences of climate change, its impacts and adaptation strategies in the districts of the Volta Delta. The districts covered under the project include Ada East, Ada West, North and South Tongu, Central Tongu,Akatsi South as well as Keta and Ketu South Municipalities.
Some DECCMA Team members in a group photograph with traditional leaders and M/DCEs.
As part of the workshop programmes, participantswatched two videos on the impact of climate change in the Volta Delta of Ghana and the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in Bangladesh. They depicted impacts such as loss of habitat and livelihoods, deteriorating standards of living and population displacement.
In a presentation on the project, the Deputy Principal Investigator, Dr Kwasi Appeaning Addo offered insight into the essence of the DECCMA Project and the consortium undertaking the research. He explained the causes and the extent of vulnerability of deltas all over the world. According to him, the outcome of the DECCMA project would raise awareness about vulnerability, governance mechanisms, adaptation strategies and whether migration served as a feasible adaptation option to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts in the Volta Delta.
Dr. Kwasi Appeaning Addo,Deputy PI, making a presentation
Participants, in two breakout sessions, engaged in brainstorming activities. In the first where they were grouped by districts, participants discussed issues of climate change and environment, migration, adaptation and economic relevance in their various districts. They also discussed the remedies, whether anticipatory or reactive, proposed or ongoing, within their districts. In a second breakout session, participants were randomly assigned to groups in which theydiscussed the relevance of the DECCMA project to them and their possible contributions to the project. They gave insight into similar projects and private sector partnerships in their local government unit where applicable. Discussions also bordered around how to work together to ensure the sustainability of the delta.
Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe, Project Coordinatorexplaining a point during the group discussions
A traditional ruler Mama Adzesu III of the South Tongu Traditional Area who chaired the programme expressed hope about the project’s focus on gender and livelihoods in the area and expressed her expectations for the project to be beneficial to women in her traditional area.
Hon. Sylvester Tornyeavah, the Municipal Chief Executive of Keta, on behalf of his colleagues stated their commitment to work with the DECCMA team towards the success of the project.
From L-R: Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe, the Project Coordinator; Mama Adzesu III, the chairperson; Hon. Sylvester Tornyeavah, Keta MCE and Dr. Kwasi Appeaning Addo Deputy Principal Investigator at the workshop.
At the end, participants were impressed with the workshop and looked forward to working with the DECCMA Team on the Project. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Winfred Nelson and Dr. Adelina Mensah, both consultants on the project.
A section of participants at the workshop
