aap ghana_mentoring and coaching initiative_keta field trip report

8/12/2019 AAP Ghana_Mentoring and Coaching Initiative_Keta Field Trip Report

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MENTORING AND COACHING INITIATIVE

FIELD TRIP REPORTON

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION MEASURES

AT THE KETA MUNICIPALITY

(25TH

-26TH

MAY, 2012)


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ACRONYMS

AAP Africa Adaptation Programme

CBO Community Based Management

CCA Climate Change Adaptation

COP Conference of Parties

CSO Civil Society Organization

DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

EPA Environmental Protection AgencyERUs Emission Reduction Units

GES Ghana Education Service

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IT Information Technology

JI Joint Implementation

NADMO National Disaster Management OrganisationNCCC National Climate Change Committee

NDPC National Development Planning Commission

NGO Non Governmental Organisation

PPM Parts Per Million

REDD Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

UN United Nations


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BACKGROUND

Addressing climate change in developing countries requires practical adaptation actions andmeasures based on a sound scientific, technical and socio-economic basis. The Mentoring and

Coaching Initiative was adopted by the AAP as a tool for capacity building through a learning-by-doing

approach. As part of its efforts to give mentors and mentees a practical perspective of community-

based climate change adaptation measures, a field trip to the Keta Municipality, one of the pilot sites

of the AAP programme was organized for the 25th of May, 2012. This is a summary of the trip.

1. KETA MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY

Participants embarked on the bus from the EPA Head of Office and the Accra Mall and arrived at the

Keta Municipal Assembly office at 11:00 am. They were met by Mr. M. P. Dagbui (Mentor and

Planning Officer of Keta Municipal Assembly) and given a presentation on the Implementation of the

AAP Programme in the Keta Municipality (Figure. 1a-b) (see Annex A for presentation; Annex B for

list of participants).

Mr. Dagbui provided participants an overview of the Keta Municipality and discussed some of the

activities that had led to the current environmental concerns - coastal erosion and flooding. Thesehave seriously affected the properties and livelihoods of the communities. Based on this, AAP had

provided support to provide permanent access to communities who were stranded during such floods.

Following the presentation, there were discussions with participants including:

Actions to prevent harvesting of mangroves, which include educating community members on

the importance of mangroves and not cutting indiscriminately. Community bye-laws do not

protect mangroves but prevent sand winning which is prosecutable by fine

Traditional laws and beliefs which are mainly limited to fishing days depending on the family


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Mentoring and Coaching Initiative (MCI) of the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP)

2. SITE VISIT: THE FLOOD CONTROL BRIDGE AT KEDZI

The flood control bridge (Figure 2a-d) is located near the mouth of the Keta Lagoon where there is a

naturally created sandbar separating the lagoon from the sea. The bridge was built with manually

operated concrete passage ways that are opened during flooding periods to allow water from the

main lagoon to flow through the gates, break the sand bar and join the sea.

Figure 2a: Participants crossing the bridge - the main body

of the Keta lagoon is on the left and the seaward side, right

Figure 2b: The flood control bridge


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The participants visited one of the groynes, which extends about 220m from the shore into the sea

(Figures 3a). The sea has gradually deposited sand between the groins (Figure 3b-c), which has

reclaimed about 140m of land. It was observed that the sand was being stabilized by planting coconuttrees, as well as block making (Figure 3d).

Figure 3a: Along one of the groynes Figure 3b: Mentors having a discussion. The white arrowshows the distance of the next groyne, and deposited sand inbetween.


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Figure 3e: The Fort Prinzenstein at the mercy of the sea Figure 3f: Rear view of the Fort Prinzenstein facing the sea


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4. SITE VISIT: MANGROVE MARKET

The mangrove market at Anyanui shows the extent of harvesting of the red and white mangroves

growing around Anyanui, Atorkor and Salo for domestic and commercial use (Figures 4a-c).

Communities depend on the sale of mangroves (for construction and smoking of fish) and other

mangrove products such as crabs, fish and black snails. Participants took the note of the degradation

of the ecosystem (Figure 4d) as well as other activities, such as the transportation of sand to inland

communities that have limited resources for construction (Figure 4e). Since the portions of the land

and mangroves belong to families, there is active replanting of the mangroves to minimize the

complete loss of the forests.

Participants were educated on the distinguishing features between red and white mangroves,

especially the root system and type of seedling produced. Red mangroves were identified by their

prop roots (Figure 4d) and elongated seedlings (Figure 4f), while white mangroves have breathing

roots that protrude out of the soil and have rounded seedlings (Figure 4g). Some aquatic life was also

observed, such as the Periophthalmus barbarus (mudskipper/ walking fish) and mangrove crab

(Figure 4h).


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Figure 4e: Sand is brought in from the shore and transported

across to inland communities for building

Figure 4f: White arrow shows germinating seedling of red mangrove


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Figure 5c: Participants looking at a crocodile (white arrow) Figure 5d: Monkey at the resort

6. SITE VISIT: THE SUIPE BRIDGE

The Suipe Bridge (Figures 6a-b), which was funded by the Africa Adaptation Programme, is about a

100m foot long. Before its construction, transport on the Nyakpatsi stream was almost impossible

during floods. This affected all economic and social activities of communities that were located behind

the stream. The construction of the foot bridge across the stream now allows indigenes access in all

seasons of the year.


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Annex A: Presentation on Implementat ion of A AP Programme in K eta Munic ip al i ty


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[12]

Annex B: List of Participants

Name Address Email Contact number

1 Love A. Bediako NADMO - Accra [email protected] 0244448618

2 Abena A. Baafi Care InternationalAccra [email protected] 0244664452

3 E.T. Atsu Aowin Suaman District AssemblyWestern Region

[email protected] 0245930065

4 Sena Hukpati EPA/AAP

Accra


5 Aaron Aduna Water Resources Commission -Bolgatanga [email protected] 0242074137

6 M.P. Dagbui Keta Municipal AssemblyVolta Region [email protected] 0208197401

7 Vivian H.M. Attah Ghana Institute of Management and Public

AdministrationAccra

[email protected]/

[email protected]

0244324924/

0285089569

8 Aduse-Poku Minka Accra [email protected] 0205649000

9 Gershon T. Keta Municipal AssemblyVolta Region [email protected] 0246302063

10 Angelina Badu Aowin Suaman District AssemblyWestern

Region


11 Mr. Antwi-B Amoah Environmental Protection Agency - Accra [email protected] 0243987871

12 Dr. Adelina Mensah University of Ghana - Accra [email protected] 0244481018

13 Awo A. B. Manson University of Ghana - Accra [email protected] 0208505638 /

0243853542

14 Elizabeth Amenyaglo ABANTU - Accra [email protected] 0246821166

15 Hilma Manan Forestry Commission - Accra [email protected] 0244094186

16 Joachim Abungba Water Resources Commission - Bolgatanga [email protected] 0246737819

17 N. Dokurugu NADMO - Accra [email protected] 0208126675

aap ghana_mentoring and coaching initiative_keta field trip report

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