ABIBINSROMA PRESS STATEMENT - World Day to Combat Desertification

PRESS STATEMENT - World Day to Combat Desertification 2016

DATE: 17th June, 2016

We in Abibinsroma Foundation, in solidarity with every Ghanaian, especially those living in desert prone areas, wish you all a happy and memorable World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This year’s theme for World Day to Combat Desertification is “Inclusive cooperation for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, Protect Earth, Restore land and Engage people.” 

Desertification is a form of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water leaving no plants either wildlife on it. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as disasters or climate change which mostly resulting from irresponsible human’s activities. Desertification is a significant global ecological and environmental problem.

There are many strategies that can be adopted to help save lives and livelihoods in drought‐affected communities. By reframing policies in terms of drought preparedness and risk management, as opposed to disaster response, investments can be made that are much more cost‐effective and life‐ saving than sending humanitarian aid after a crisis has occurred. Through social and economic interventions among vulnerable communities, capacity and resilience to withstand the effects of drought can be strengthened. 

By encouraging sustainable land management, establishing early warning systems leading to early actions and incentivizing alternative livelihoods to agriculture and pastoralism, the effects of drought, especially among the world’s poor, need not be so devastating.

As we mark this year’s World day to combat Desertification and Drought, let us be reminded that when land degradation reaches a level where it seriously threatens people’s livelihoods, it can turn into a security issue. Let be bold to take action and investment in sustainable land management can boost food security, improve livelihoods and help people adapt to climate change One important approach is sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.  This will not only help communities to build resilience to climate change if we Investing in our resilience today costs a fraction of the relief price we will pay tomorrow

We regret the slow pace in the implementation of the UNCCD in Ghana and the lack of holistic programmes by government to address the problems of land degradation across the country. These are serious concerns that we condemn. This lack of political will is reflected in the general absence of collaboration and action among relevant institutions that have the remit of developing practical responses to the desertification and water pollution problems in Ghana.

We therefore call on government to take a serious look at its own obligations to the UNCCD and also the plight of people living in desert prone areas and beyond

 We hope that the government will not use this year’s celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification as another opportunity to make bold political statements and promises on desertification that will never be fulfilled. Instead the national authorities must place this celebration and the theme in its proper context to the benefit of our people.

For any further information don’t hesitate to contact the Abibinsroma foundation on Tel 0506766466 and Email:info@abibinsromafoundation.org, our website www.abibimanfoundation.org