YEFL-Ghana, an NGO, in collaboration with the Faculty of Sustainable Development at the University for Development Studies (UDS) has held a high-level stakeholders’ conference on climate change in Tamale.
The conference dubbed: “Savannah Climate Conference”, was to bridge the gap between academic research and community-driven climate action, especially within Northern Ghana’s vulnerable savannah ecological zone.
It was organised with funding support from Oxfam in Ghana on the theme: “Savannah Solutions: Local Actions with Inclusion, Innovation and Impact”.
It was attended by a wide range of stakeholders including academics, youth groups, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities, and other development partners.
Madam Vera Jawol Magan, Executive Director, YEFL-Ghana, speaking during the conference, emphasised the urgent need for collaborative, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions to tackle the growing climate crisis in the savannah zone.
She cited erratic rainfall, deforestation, land degradation, and declining agricultural productivity as major challenges confronting the area.
She explained that the core objective of the conference was to strengthen linkages between institutions of higher learning and grassroots communities mostly impacted by climate change.
She said, “Our partnership with UDS underscores the need to translate scientific research into practical community-level solutions that reflect the lived realities of rural populations.”
Madam Magan said although significant climate knowledge existed in academia, its practical application at the community level remained limited.
She said, “This partnership seeks to make research findings more accessible and actionable, especially for the youth and other vulnerable groups often excluded from climate conversations.”
A key highlight of the conference was a presentation by the UDS Faculty of Sustainable Development on findings from a 60-page survey focused on the drivers of commercial charcoal production in the savannah ecological zone and its environmental impacts.
The survey concluded that while commercial charcoal burning could not be completely eliminated, interventions such as carbon financing, the promotion of improved cooking stoves, and the establishment of inter-agency coordination platforms were critical.
It also recommended the development of a lighter regulatory framework to monitor and manage charcoal sector activities effectively.
Mr Dokurugu Wumbei, Regional Programme Coordinator for Youth Education and Gender Equality at Oxfam in Ghana, reiterated Oxfam’s commitment to climate action, environmental sustainability, and inclusive dialogue.
He called on all stakeholders to seize the opportunity presented by the conference to collectively address the pressing climate challenges in the region.
Dr Emmanuel Abeere-inga, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Development Authority, described forests and land resources as the lifelines of the savannah ecological zone warning that they were under increasing threat from deforestation and unsustainable land use.
He said the government, through initiatives such as the Tree for Life programme, was making concerted efforts to restore degraded lands through agroforestry and reforestation strategies.
He said, “Forest conservation should be viewed not just as an environmental imperative but also as a sustainable livelihood strategy.”
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, commended YEFL-Ghana and its partners for the initiative and pledged his full support towards translating the conference outcomes into practical policies and programmes that enhanced the climate resilience of communities in the region.