Traditional rulers must play frontline roles in fight against climate change-CIKOD

The Executive Director of Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) has stated that the fight against climate change in the county could be won if traditional rulers and queen mothers assume frontline role and their position duly recognized by all.

Mr. Bernard Guri made the statement at a two day workshop on climate change for traditional authorities at Wa in the Upper West Region.

The workshop was organized by CIKOD with support from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German NGO.

The purpose of the workshop was to sensitize traditional rulers, especially queen mothers from the Upper West Region and heads of Environmental Sub-Committees of District Assemblies in the region to the realities of climate change. It was under the theme “Climate Change: The Role of Traditional Woman Leader”.

Mr Guri said climate change is a real life threatening phenomenon but said unfortunately different interpretations and explanations are being given to the effects of the menace.

A lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Asaah Mohammed who made a presentation on the “Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Northern Ghana said it has now become difficult to make accurate prediction of the weather which is very vital for effective food production.”

He noted that traditional rulers used to play crucial role when it came to the protection of the environment.

He mentioned the protection of sacred grooves and the prohibition of hunting in some forbidden areas as some of the measures that were put in place to save the environment.

He said the Volta Basin which represents the three northern regions and parts of Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions is a vulnerable area with high levels of problems relating to food security.

This he said is a result of the climate change in the weather conditions of the area. He cited the incessant floods in the Northern Regions as one of the examples of the effects of the impact of the climate change.

He called for pragmatic steps to rectify this anomaly by planting more trees and preserving existing ones.

In an address read on his behalf, the Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Dr Gregol Ryssel said the organization decided to support the programme because it believes in good governance and democracy. Mr. Ryssel said if the environment is not secured and protected sustainable democratic governance cannot take place.

The President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs Naa Sohimwininye Danaah GoreII the second called for active involvement of chiefs when it comes to taking decisions on climate change.

A queen mother at Jirapa Pognaa Rebecca Dombo who was a participant said the queen mothers in the region will introduce education programs to educate the public about the dangers of bush burning.