Perennial floods in Northern Ghana attributed to bare effects of Climate Change

The Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Kwesi Ahwoi has attributed the perennial flood in the Upper East and parts of Northern and Upper West Regions to bare effects of climate change. For him, the annual floods resulting from heavy rains and worsened by the spillage of the Bagre dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso can be utilized to benefit those in affected areas. According to him the excess water from the White Volta should not be allowed to flow freely into the sea but rather be harvested through contour bunding and other on-farm water retaining structures. Residence of flood prone areas, he moreover suggested should adopt the practice of flood recession farming where moisture from receding floods is used to cultivate onion, water melons and cowpeas before the soil dries up completely. He revealed that farmers in Bawku and Builsa Districts prioritize flood recession farming without irrigation facilities. This, he noted, has resulted to increased onion and cowpea production in the said areas. His Ministry, Mr.  Ahwoi observed, is highly elated about the practice and has therefore directed all regional managers of MOFA to embark on field tours to such areas for farmers to witness the benefit of the practice so that they can replicate it to enhance their farming activities. He applauded the effort of government in its quest to curtail the perennial flooding situation of Northern Ghana and called on authorities concerned to augment the effort of government through enhanced public education. Intense public education and attitudinal change, he pointed out, are key to ensuring the minimal effect of the floods.

GBC                                                            END                                                                    IA/