Keta: Coastal women receive training on swift action to climate crises. Some women along the coastal belt of the Volta Region have received training from Women's Voices in Coastal Climate Adaptations (WOVCCA-RFPR) and Institute of Climate and Environmental Governance on swift actions to adopt in addressing the divergence climate crisis.
According to Ghana News Agency, the training was part of the Women's Voices in Coastal Climate Adaptation (WOVCCA-RFPR) project, led by the Institute of Climate and Environmental Governance (ICEG) with support from the Gender and Environmental Data Alliance (GEDA). Mr. Khiddir Iddris, the Project Leader, stated during an interview at the workshop held at Villa Amore hotel in Keta, that the exercise brought together women from Anloga, Kedzi, Kedzikorpe, among others, who participated and shared suggestions about climate change during the program.
Mr. Iddris mentioned that participants included traders, fish processors, farmers, youth, and elderly residents who were equipped with coastal adaptation plans aimed at addressing pressing environmental challenges. He noted that many participating women shared their experiences about the tidal wave incursions, disappearing fish stocks, and salinization of farmlands.
Mr. Iddris further explained that another objective of the WOVCCA-RFPR project was to address and eliminate the gap in gender inclusion in climate decision-making. He emphasized that the women are not just victims but have ideas and need support to bring them to life. The workshop concluded with a shared resolution that would turn community recommendations into actionable plans, and ICEG pledged to escalate the feedback to municipal assemblies, national stakeholders, and development partners for urgent follow-up.
Madam Fredericka Tay, a fishmonger from Anloga who participated in the training, highlighted the economic tolls, noting the difficulties in obtaining fish to sustain their fishing business. She called for urgent action to address both climate and manmade challenges, suggesting policies such as investment in cold storage facilities, agro-processing centers, and stricter regulations against illegal sand winning to prevent acceleration of coastal erosion.
Some other participants called for urgent support including access to capital and storage facilities to improve their livelihoods. They emphasized the need for intervention projects to safeguard their communities, livelihoods, and future, advocating for initiatives such as tomato processing plants and parenting programs to build children's resilience.
The workshop marked a crucial step towards turning dialogue into action. The participants' recommendations and feedback will inform the development of gender-sensitive climate solutions and adaptation planning in the future. The training on swift action about climate crisis for coastal women was seen as a significant step towards addressing the climate crisis in the municipalities along the coast. The WOVCCA-RFPR project's focus on gender inclusion and women's leadership will help ensure that the community's needs are met and their resilience strengthened.
