US launches natural resources management and incomes project in Northern region

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson has called for effective stakeholders collaboration to help address Ghana`s dwindling natural resources. 

He said the destruction of natural resources in the country is mostly as a result of poor management and climate change, hence the need for the collaboration to share ideas on ways of preserving it. 

He said the attention being given to the preservation of the natural resources is inadequate and has gone a long way to affect the country`s `revenue generation in the sector. 

Dr. Jackson said this at the launch of a US government`s` natural resources management project at Mole in the West Gonja District of the Northern. 

The five-year, $25 million AgNRM project will work to reduce poverty in northern Ghana, with a particular focus on women, by addressing local environmental, agricultural, governance and natural resource management challenges. 

The activities include strengthening the shea, moringa, tamarind and dawadawa value chains; promoting climate-smart agriculture and gardening; and helping communities form Village Savings and Loans Associations, so they can pool savings and make investments to protect natural resources.

“This project will work with communities across northern Ghana to harness their natural resources and ensure sustainable long term prosperity,” said Ambassador Jackson at the launch. “I strongly believe that if we all work together, we can protect Ghana’s environment, natural resources, and wealth for the long term.”  

The project is part of the Feed the Future Initiative, the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative, which focused on smallholder farmers, particularly women, Feed the Future supports partner countries in developing their agriculture sectors to spur economic growth and trade that increase incomes and reduce hunger, poverty and under nutrition. 

In Ghana, Feed the Future focuses on improving food security, incomes and nutrition in northern Ghana. 

The project also furthers the goals laid out by President Obama in his Climate Action Plan by supporting low emissions development and strengthening resilience to climate change.  

USAID works to further these goals and to improve education, health, governance, and economic growth in Ghana.

The USAID/Ghana Mission Director Andrew Karas, Northern Regional Minister, Abdallah Abubakari, and wildlife and forestry officials attended the event .

GBC