Ghana’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Upper West Region to lead climate action. This call comes as the region grapples with the devastating effects of erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and failing crops. These climate impacts directly threaten local livelihoods and human survival, demanding immediate, localized adaptation and mitigation projects.
The Minister, speaking through his Director, Administrator, and Climate Finance Officer, Frank Nansam Aggrey, emphasized that climate change is an economic and governance emergency. He stressed the need for district leaders to integrate climate action directly into their medium-term development plans and annual budgets. This integration is crucial for safeguarding local agriculture, which forms the economic backbone of the Upper West Region.
This directive aligns with broader national efforts to build climate resilience and protect vulnerable communities. Ghana has experienced increasing climate variability, with northern regions particularly susceptible to desertification and extreme weather events. Previous reports from the Ghana Statistical Service have highlighted the economic costs of climate change, including reduced agricultural output and damage to infrastructure.
The Acting Upper West Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Jonas Kpierekoh, recently led a delegation to inspect climate mitigation sites. This tour followed a high-level stakeholder engagement at Fanco Hospitality in Wa. The inspections aimed to assess the effectiveness of interventions on the ground and identify areas needing urgent attention.
One key finding from the inspections was the incomplete status of critical infrastructure projects. For example, a large drainage gutter designed to mitigate severe flooding at the Kambali waterway in Wa Municipality remains unfinished. This leaves residents continually vulnerable to extreme weather events, despite the clear need for resilient infrastructure.
Technical Director at the Office of the Minister, Cedric Dzelu, revealed a significant barrier to project completion: the inability of local districts to access available climate finance. He stated that substantial funds, including a US$1.1 million pool at the Ministry of Finance, often go unused. This is because local districts fail to submit technically sound, bankable proposals, hindering the implementation of vital projects.
To address this capacity gap, Programmes Officer Awo Yaa Akyere Brew announced the rollout of dedicated Climate Change and Sustainability Units within all MMDAs. This initiative aims to decentralize operations from Accra and directly engage with vulnerable districts. The goal is to equip local officers with the necessary skills to prepare successful proposals, access global climate finance, and build a resilient economy that protects everyday Ghanaians.
The establishment of these units is a critical step towards empowering local authorities to proactively manage climate risks. It signals a shift from reactive post-disaster relief to strategic, climate-resilient planning. Decision-makers and development partners will closely watch the effectiveness of these new units in unlocking climate finance and accelerating mitigation efforts across the Upper West Region.