Ghana is impacted by various risks and uncertainties, including increased storm surges, extreme rainfall, sea-level rise, flooding and increased frequency, and severity of droughts.

More worrying is the effect of climate change on community livelihoods, infrastructure stability, rain-fed agriculture, food security, spatial planning, and energy security among others.

At a two-day awareness workshop for planning officers in the Western Region around effectively integrating extreme weather and climate change risks into district-level energy frameworks and planning in Takoradi, Mr. Chikkatur spoke of the need for Ghana to pay particular attention to climate change due to its present and future threat it poses.

He explained to Citi News that “there is what we call non-climate stressors. We already have building codes in Ghana. We have environmental impact assessments that one should do. if you do not do those environmental impact assessments correctly, if you do not follow these existing building codes correctly, then whatever happens with climate will just make it worst.

“We have drains in Takoradi, we have drains in Accra. Many of these drains as we know them are clogged. You get to the Kaneshie Market during rain storms and the drains all get covered. If we do not clean the drains, it is going to make things more difficult. Does that has to do with climate change? No, it has to do with us following the building codes, we need to follow procedures, it has to do with us not throwing garbage on the streets, we make sure if they are there already, they are getting collected among others.”

Mr. Chikkatur then admonished that “if the things that we are supposed to do are not done, and on top of that we have the effect of Climate Change, its going to make things even worse. It’s not just about climate change, but following the codes for sanitation, building and other codes”.

Speaking of how Climate Change is becoming a threat to Ghana, Mr. Chikkatur mentioned of the report they have produced on Climate Change and its effect on Ghana, when he said that “in the next 20 to 30 years, there will be increased high temperatures in Ghana. It could be anywhere in Ghana and will range anywhere between 1.2 and 1.6 centigrade in the future. It means that the weather will be hotter and the rainfall pattern is anticipated to change. We anticipate that there will be more rains from the months of August to December and less rain from March to June. This will be a slight change”.

He continued that “as the temperature gets warmer, there will be more evaporation and so there will be more clouds. This presents a possibility that there will be more rains but these rainfalls could be more extreme as we have been seeing in Accra. Accra has had rainfalls at unexpected times and downpours. These patterns could be more extreme. We need to plan with these changes in patterns in mind”.

It is on the back of putting integrated climate change information into planning at the district assembly level that the IRRP is sensitizing planning officers in the Western Region to aid them factor in climate change information in their planning processes.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The beneficiary communities are Tinsung and Warivi in the Mion district, and also Kunkong and Nkwanta in the Yendi municipality.

Additional 22 CHPS compounds funded by the USAID are at various stages of completion.

The initiative forms part of the United States government’s agenda to promote primary health care in deprived communities.

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, inaugurated the projects at a colourful ceremony in the Mion district.

“This is part of the 26 CHPS compounds we will be delivering this year, and it underscores our commitment to community health.”

“We believe that these CHPS compounds and bringing health care to communities are very important for maternal and child health and so that is our focus,” Ambassador Jackson earlier told Citi News.

He said the strategy to deliver community level health service remained a key health system reform for Ghana’s health sector.

“The CHPS approach brings health services closer to your households, and allows you to make the most productive use of your time. You will no longer have to travel long distances to seek healthcare. Pregnant women in your communities will no longer have to take long, bumpy rides on a motor-king (tricycle) to the district hospital.”

The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, commended the US government for its humanitarian services to the citizens of Ghana.

He gave the assurance that the CHPS compounds would be sustained and that health personnel would be well catered for.

The Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, thanked the USAID for its unflinching support in diverse ways to the people of the area.

He particularly mentioned the health sector which he admitted that government alone could not solve its myriad challenges.

Salifu Saeed urged the chiefs and residents of the beneficiary communities to safeguard the compounds.

He further pleaded with them to motivate health personnel posted to their communities to diligently discharge their duties.

He commended the Mion District Assembly for donating a motorbike to one of the CHPS compounds.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The CHPS compounds are to improve access to primary health care services at the community level to promote universal health coverage.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KLRLaxtDQqrqqNrhcRy2LepluNc0Sfv3″]An official statement issued by USAID said it had been working with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to improve accessibility, quality and use of health services, with a focus on maternal and child health and nutrition services.

Chiefs, assembly members and community members joined USAID/Ghana Mission’s Director Sharon L. Cromer; USAID/Ghana Health Office Director Akua Kwateng-Addo; Ketu South Municipal District Chief Executive, Edem Elliot Agbenorwu; Ghana Health Service Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams; at the event, the statement said.

Mr. Edward Kaba, the Volta Regional Health Directorate Deputy Director, Administration; KOICA Deputy Country Director Mr. Seungmin Oh; and USAID Systems for Health Chief of Party Marni Laverentz were also at the event.

Madam Sharon L. Cromer, the USAID-Ghana Mission Director, commended the community members for their contributions in making the CHPS compound a success, the statement said.

“Your community collaboration and investment is exemplary and clearly demonstrates the premium you place on your own health and wellbeing,” said Cromer.

She thanked the community health officers for their relentless work in serving their communities encouraged the community members to participate actively in the upkeep and maintenance of these compounds.

“It will help ensure that all systems and equipment continue to work so that everyone in your community can enjoy a good and healthy life,” she advised.

The ceremony was held at the CHPS compound in Lotakor, the statement said.

“The CHPS compounds were constructed in line with the standard guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Health and include a clinical unit, a residential unit with two separate one-bedroom apartments, an elevated water tank, a septic tank, placenta pit, incinerator, borehole and solar panels.

“The process of CHPS compound construction involves elaborate stakeholder consultations and reflects gender-sensitive and environmental guidelines.”

The CHPS compounds were constructed as part of the USAID-supported Systems for Health project, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service.

KOICA provided financial support for the construction of the Lotakor CHPS compound.

The statement said additional CHPS compounds were under construction in Northern and Volta regions, which are expected to be completed in 2018-2019.

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Source: GNA

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She said this at Chirehin in the Kintampo South District of the Brong Ahafo Region on Tuesday, when she made a stop in that community to participate in a community interface meeting between the citizens and the District Assembly.

The meeting was organised by CARE International and the Women Integrated Development Organisation (WIDO), as part of the implementation of the USAID-funded Ghana’s Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms (GSAM) project.

After witnessing a successful engagement between the citizens and officials of the Assembly, Ms Cromer commended the residents of Chirehin for standing up to their local government authorities to demand accountability and improved service delivery.

“You asked the right questions today. You asked about the cost of the project, you asked about introducing you to the contractor, you asked about delays in construction, you asked about local content. All are excellent questions. I commend you. What we have heard is democracy in action. When communities have information, they are empowered. You are empowered. So I ask you today to continue to hold your leaders accountable.”

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kintampo South, Alexander Gyan, who responded positively to issues raised by citizens, promised to get the road network to Chirehin properly fixed.

He also reiterated his commitment to ensure that the CHPS Compound that the Assembly is constructing in Chirehin is completed by December.

The Chief of Chirehin, Nana Owusu Gyan II, expressed gratitude to the USAID and its partners for extending the GSAM project to his community, and said the project had helped to improve the implementation of development projects by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

He pleaded with the USAID and its partners to extend the lifespan of the project so that it can make greater impact and sustain the gains made.

The GSAM project is a five-year social accountability project that seeks to “strengthen citizens’ oversight of capital projects to improve local government transparency, accountability and performance in 100 districts of Ghana.

It is being funded by the USAID, and implemented by the GSAM project Consortium, which comprises CARE, OXFAM (formerly IBIS) and ISODEC.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced direct grants to 800 communities to help implement innovative local solutions that encourage reading.

United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Robert P. Jackson made this announcement during the launch of USAID’s Partnership for Education project, Innovating.

The Innovating project is a four-year partnership between USAID and the Ministry of Education and is expected to create a culture of reading among children.

According to Ambassador Jackson, the education programme has an objective of increasing the number of Ghanaian children who are able to read with fluency and comprehension in the early grades of primary school.

On his part, a chief director at the Ministry of Education, Enoch Kobbinah said his outfit will work closely with USAID to ensure the success of the programme. He called for the need to have a reading revolution in order to inculcate reading habits in children.

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The partners constructed seven latrines and provided potable water to five schools, trained more than 40 teachers on healthy hygiene behaviours and latrine facility maintenance.

[contextly_sidebar id=”v24ugOl7KdFL9wwOBTGqw1yd9iROkmSd”]They also provided 40 hand washing stations and established school hygiene clubs.

Mr Anthony Chinebuah, a Representative of Coca-Cola at the official commissioning of the facilities at Tanokrom Primary and Junior High School, said the sustainability of communities was directly linked to the business growth of the company.

The five-year project implemented by Global Communities is to accelerate sustainable improvement in water and sanitation access and improve hygiene behaviours.

It would also leverage on Public Private Partnership Investment to magnify the impact of US government funding, improve sanitation infrastructure for schools and health facilities.

Mr Chinbuah said, “we know that we cannot have a viable business, where our people live, work and play are not healthy and economically viable…we want to make sure children grow up healthy to develop their full potential, and we believe the provision of water, sanitation facilities and promotion of hygiene are critical to achieving this”, he added.

Mr Emmanuel Odotei, USAID representative was happy that the facilities had been completed on schedule to be used by the various beneficiaries.

“We are pleased to see these facilities completed and ready for use here at Tankrom and at the four other schools in the Metropolis and Ahanta West district, they are an example of what great partnership looks like between public and private sectors”, he added.

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Source: GNA

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The country has been ranked in the second tier for the second year in a row, and has thus been noted by the US Department of State for not fully meeting “the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in person, including child labour.”

The revelation was made by the Chief of Party of the USAID Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP), Maurice Knight, at a durbar at Apam in the Gomoa West District in the Central Region, to commemorate this year’s World Day against Child Labour.

The durbar, dabbed “Eliminating Child Labour and Trafficking in our Vulnerable Community is Our Duty”, was a USAID Ghana/Sustainable  Fisheries Management Project  (SFMP) programme that featured school children, fishermen and fishmongers in and around Apam.

The campaign against child labour and slavery aims at educating parents in fishing communities on dangers of child labour in fishing, with the ultimate goal of keeping children in fishing areas in the classroom.

Clarifying what the US State Department means by child labour, Mr. Knight said, “When we speak of child labour and slavery, we are not talking about children who are helping their parents with their chores before and after school.

It is the exploitation “from traffickers and others who promises parents of children as young as five years old that they will provide children with an education and an apprenticeship, and then exploit or sell those children into modern day slavery.”

It is estimated that there are over 2.7 million child labourers in Ghana, and that the largest employers of child labour in Ghana are in the fishing, cocoa and artisanal mining sectors.

He has urged the government of Ghana to seriously improve on its efforts aimed at stamping out child labour in the fishing, mining and farming sectors to create a better future for the children of Ghana.

The District Chief Executive of the Gomoa West District, Hon Bismark Baisie Nkum, called on chief fishermen, chairmen of landing beach committees and all fisher folks to rally behind the campaign by “monitoring and reporting any act of child labour and trafficking identified in the fishing communities to the police or the District Assembly for necessary action to be taken”.

Hon Nkum further advised parents to eschew trafficking, noting they “should realize that the immediate solution to (their) poverty is not selling (their) children for money which will end them into slavery or child labour in different communities”.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The vehicles would be used in monitoring the programme, which aims at enhancing teaching and learning in Ghanaian schools.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vERJkhk4kcvN11RYEk5Pasu0YU1KzWMH”]Madam Cynthia Bosumtwi-Sam, Director, Basic Education Division, Ghana Education Service said the vehicles would be given to officials of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the National Council for Curriculum Assessment and the National Teaching Council.

“It will enable them to engage in effective monitoring and evaluation process in all the 100 districts that have been selected to benefit from the programme,” she said.

It would also aid the Ministry’s aim of strengthening and supporting human and institutional capacities to improve academic excellence in early grade reading as well as improve, expand and sustain reading outcomes,” she said.

Madam Bosumtwi-Sam said, learning especially reading was key in the life of every child and a priority to government hence the need for the Ministry to work with all contracted partners to ensure the effective implementation of PELA.

She said aside PELA, the Ministry had also initiated a reading festival as a strategy to encourage and stimulate children’s interest in reading and had also procured 4.3 million supplementary readers in Ghanaian and English languages for all public primary schools.

On the programme, Madam Bosumtwe-Sam said it was a collaboration between the USAID, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service.

“It is aimed at supporting Ghana’s educational institutions with the goal of improving, expanding and sustaining learning outcomes for kindergarten through to grade three,” she said.

She said the programme was started in 2013 and is expected to end in 2019.

Madam Bosumtwi-sam stated that 100 districts excluding deprived districts were selected to participate in the programme based on their performance and enhancement in the educational sector.

She said measures were being put in place to take care of those in the deprived districts as well.

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Source: GNA

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Andrew Karas expressed his delight when he visited some of the USAID funded project sites at the Dorimon community in the Wa West district of the Upper West Region.

The visit offered him the opportunity to interact with most of the beneficiaries mainly women.

He paid a courtesy call on the Dorimon paramount chief, Naa Sohimwininye Danaa Gori II, who thanked the USAID for implementing the project within his traditional area.

The chief narrated that, the project has since its implementation improved the livelihood of his people whose economic mainstay is rural agriculture.

Mr. Karas praised the chief and his subjects for their teamwork which he said contributed to the AgNRM project’s achievements.

He visited Alima Sulemana, a smallholder farmer who took advantage of the AgNRM project to stimulate agribusiness.

According to Alima Sulemana, the project aided her to adopt new technologies to improve soil fertility on her farmland.

“Thanks to USAID, I now have a secured plot of land for household gardening. I am currently nursing moringa seedlings with plans to grow vegetables,” remarked Alima.

“The new technologies are helping to improve the fertility of the soil so that my crops can grow well” said another beneficiary.

Also, Sauba Iddrisu said the project improved their expertise on the productive use of the moringa plant to boost their incomes.

“We are happy to have received the training that will help us improve upon the various uses of the moringa plant. We can now process moringa into oil, ointment, liquid and bar soaps to improve our sources of income and take care of our needs.”

About 170 women in the Dorimon community have been trained on the use of improved cook stove (InStove technology) to enable them advance from the orthodox practice of processing shea products.

As a member of the Dorimon CREMA group, Faustina Sanbor expressed her joy, saying, “The stove is easy to set up with very little fire wood. When the shea is boiling, we can get very close to the stove without feeling any heat. This stove is very safe, clean and more convenient as compared to the traditional stove.”

The U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative, AgNRM, aims to alleviate poverty in rural communities through increased incomes from natural resource products such as shea and moringa; improve food and nutrition security; increased farmer and community security/access to land and natural resources, and strengthen environmental stewardship.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post USAID’s Ghana mission head visits agric & natural resources mgt. site appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The intervention focuses on teaching kindergarten (KG2), primary (P1) and primary (P2) pupils the building blocks of reading: letter recognition, sounding letters, decoding and forming words, building vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

The objective of the intervention is to train teachers to apply the “phonemic” approach within classes and provide continuous coaching and support using teachers’ guides and books for pupils.

As part of the intervention, the MoE began implementing the “phonemic” approach in the Yendi Municipality in January, 2017, to improve basic literacy skills and promote reading among pupils in public primary schools in rural areas.

The intervention is being prototyped in the Dagbanli Language in the Yendi Municipality with the intention to include 11 more local languages and an English reading programme.

Overall reading progress for P1 jumped from three percent of children reading words to 64 per cent whiles pupils improved letter sound knowledge from three words per minute to 16 words per minute within two and half months of the implementation of the intervention in the Yendi Municipality.

Mr Andrew Karas, USAID Mission Director, who visited two beneficiary primary schools in the Yendi Municipality to observe the progress of the intervention, expressed the commitment of USAID to ensure that all children in the country read with fluency and comprehension.

Schools visited were Balogu and R.C Primary at Yendi.

Mr Karas said the intervention is making great strides adding that “we are improving school management systems, ensuring teachers and pupils have adequate reading materials, training teachers, promoting reading in communities, introducing new, more effective approaches to teaching.”

Madam Barbara Ayisi-Archer, Deputy Minister of Education, said the use of the mother tongue is important and urged teachers to use the mother tongue at the lower primary level to improve the ability of children to grasp lessons.

She said using the mother tongue in the initial phase would help children to better transition to the English Language.

The Ghana News Agency understands the progress made at Yendi will help develop materials for an additional 10 GES-approved Ghanaian Languages to expand the programme to 100 targeted districts from the 2017/2018 school year.

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Source: GNA

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