An insight with the executive director of Abibiman Foundation

Ghana economy relies heavily on climate sensitive sectors mainly on agriculture, energy and forestry. About 70% of the population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture and forest sector for both timber and non-timber forest products. Any anomaly in the climate therefore tends to affect the economy of Ghana, particularly the vulnerable.

The limited use of irrigation facilities and high dependence on unfavorable climatic conditions for the realization of good harvest tend to introduce huge instability in the standards of living of the people. The percentage of cultivated land under irrigation in Ghana is 0.89%.

This is equivalent to 23,657 hectares. Consequently, majority of Ghanaians, who live in the rural areas and thrive mainly on rain-fed farming in rural communities, become disproportionately vulnerable since they are most exposed to hazards such as bush fires, flooding and droughts and are least capable of adapting to such hazards.

Meet Kenneth Amoateng, a young hardworking Executive Director of Abibiman Foundation who shared his experienced with me helping his community adapt to climate change. He is a change maker and a climate champion in his community. Throughout his life, he does not think about himself alone but how well others survive in the community.

Please introduce yourself

I am Kenneth Amoateng, the executive director of Abibiman foundation, I am a social worker and a social activist advocating for climate change issues, education, human rights just to name few.

How did you become a climate change advocate?

Being driven by the passion to help society, I got involved in the fight to combat climate change as a result of the adverse impact of climate change on some communities and how it made the inhabitants vulnerable due to the washing away of the coastal lands of Tema manhean, a fishing community in which I once lived.

As a young person, how do you help your community to adapt to climate change?

As a young person, I decided to educate my community by creating greater awareness on climate change through the local community radio. I started speaking on radio to create the awareness on the causes of the washing away of the beach and what they as a community members can do to become less vulnerable. I also went to schools to speak to student and formed clubs at the schools to educate the students as well.

What motivated as a Climate change activist?

My motivation was found in the realization of the community members wanting to fight climate change through their own small way through their participation in designing local strategies to adapt to climate change. The willingness of the community members motivated me to study more about climate change and educate more people especially the youth and build their capacities to take up initiatives to build resilience.

As the executive director of Abibiman foundation, is there any climate change projects you undertook and what impacts has it got to the community?

We have undertaken a number of climate change projects such as the climate justice hearings in 2009, 2011 and 2015 where we tried to assess the knowledge of the rural people especially women to assess their level of vulnerability and find out the local/indigenous ways in which the adapt to the impacts and help them develop local coping strategies through community participation. We have also established the Green Life Clubs in a number of senior high schools and junior high schools since 2010 till date to educate the students and build their capacities while empowering them to develop their potential to become climate change advocates and build resilience.

What is your impression about climate change adaptation in Ghana? Is the future bright or gloomy?

Climate change adaptation in Ghana is the way to go. Looking at the economics of climate change, adaptation in my view is a step in the right direction. Communities in Ghana must be help to become resilient in order to make them less vulnerable and minimize losses and damages. They will also be able to manage disaster risks. I will therefore say climate change adaptation is bright as we expect it to receive a lot of funding.

Has your organization ever taken any climate change impact awareness in your community? What is the result?

My organization has taken a number of climate change impact awareness across the 10 regions of Ghana and a number of communities in these regions. Most of the rural farmers have had a clearer understanding of climate variability which has enabled them to engage in climate smart agriculture.

What adaptation measures did you introduce to your community?

Local indigenous knowledge includes and not limited to: defined knowledge of plant and animal species, water harvesting technologies, food preservation techniques, seed selection, soil conservation though no tillage and other techniques, use of early warning systems to predict climate changes, use of indigenous techniques in the management of pests and diseases, and multi-species composition of herds to survive climate extremes.

Adaptation measures to manage climate change risks. should include; Climate smart agricultural Fisheries production, Diversification of livelihoods/ alternatives, Decentralization of local governance of resources, Alternative energy uses, Infrastructural development, Climate information, Early warning systems, Insurance schemes.

We cannot win the battle against climate change without the indigenous and scientific knowledge, raise awareness and public education on Climate change in the community.

Fariya Abubakari, a climate tracker for Global Call for Climate Action.

Email: fariyaabubakari@yahoo.com

Read more at: http://www.modernghana.com/news/673524/an-insight-with-the-executive-director-of-abibiman-foundatio.html

Ghana SDGs implementation and delivery mechanisms should strong focus on the poor and bottom-up approach

We will call on Ghana government to implement bottom-up approach time-bound SDGs-based national development strategies with appropriate plans and budgetary allocations; to improve SDGs implementation and delivery mechanisms with a strong focus on the poor and excluded groups particularly Women, Youth and Children; to produce concrete plans to enhance domestic resource mobilization that will be earmarked for SDGs achievement; to create and implement plans for increased transparency and fighting corruption,



Kenneth Nana Amoateng
Abibiman Foundation-http://www.abibimmanfoundation.org
P.O.BOX BT 1 Tema.Flat 1/A 74 Site 3(OPP T.DC),Commmunit 1Tema-Ghana/African
Tel#  +233-506766466/233-303934983/030213918/Mob:233244023651ken@abibimmanfoundation.org,info@abibimmanfoundation.org

kamoateng@iday.org

I'm on assignment to my generation.

Please consider the impact of printing this email. One ream of paper = 5.4 kg CO2 in the atmosphere; 3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water.

 

Government must show political will and commit resources to deliver Ghana INDC

GOVERNMENT MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL AND COMMIT RESOURES TO DELIVER GHANA INDC

Ghana on the 2015-09-23 at 21:05:00 submitted its INDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) as part of Government commitment to fight climate change.  As Ghana prepares to participate in the COP21 in December this year in Paris.

Abibimman Foundation acknowledge the efforts and commitment of Government for engaging local experts through holding consultative meetings to have citizens/stakeholders make inputs when developing the Ghana INDC. This confirms what Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said that "the Black Man is Capable of managing his Own Affairs".

Abibimman Foundation commend the technical teams, CSOs and other stakeholders for their contributions and efforts in helping developed Ghana INDC. We confidently believe that Ghana as a nation can lead the process of African transformation. As we praise the country and the technical teams that worked on the INDC, it must be noted that words alone are not enough to deliver the change we need, it will take resources and political will to deliver and ensure we achieve the targets that have been set in the conditional and unconditional INDC that Ghana has developed for itself.

Even though we commend Government of Ghana for this laudable initiative for setting the pace in using its own citizen to developed Ghana INDC, Abibimman Foundation urge Government of Ghana to generate internal resources or make enough budgetary allocation to enable us achieve the Ghana INDC since over reliance of donor funding will affect our performance and implementation of own developed INDC.

Ghana might not have a strong negotiation position if we have a weak INDC, it is evident that we have the committing to reduce our emissions based. However, we believe that Ghana’s pledge to COP21 can be further strengthened

It is important for Government of Ghana to note that Coal is the most polluting of all fossil fuels and the largest single source of global warming and therefore must resist any attempt to use coal as cheapest means to generate power for it people which will only destroy the environment and affect livelihood. Clearly, Ghana and the rest of the world need to move rapidly away from burning fossil fuels and towards the use of renewable energy. This will require a great deal of political will—but the cost of further delay will be disastrous.

The president in his 2015 state of the nation address said, ‘We owe it ourselves as heirs of a generation that did this for us and perhaps even more importantly we owe it to our children and our children’s children’s  who deserve to live in a fully developed, prosperous, free and just society’.

Abibimman Foundation believe strongly that the president will lead this campaign and more importantly with other head of state across the world now that we have adopted the SDGs for another 15 years. We Hope that Government of Ghana will collaborate with civil society and all citizens so that together this generation will leave a planet free of coal and global warning for our children’s children’s.

God Bless Our Home Land Ghana.

CONTACT
Kenneth Nana Amoateng (Mr.)
The Chief Executive Officer,
P. O. Box BT1 – Tema
Tel: +233-506766466/ 0244 023651
Email: info@abibimmanfoundation.com, abibimmanfoundation@gmali.com
www.abibimmanfoundation.org
                                     

WHY THE NDCs WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE 1,5ᵒC GLOBAL TEMPERATURE TARGET

WHY THE NDCs WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE 2ᵒC GLOBAL TEMPERATURE TARGET

All roads lead to Paris in December for the cop 21 and some countries are still preparing their NDCs while others have submitted theirs. As climate change has become a global issue of which has called for the need of world leaders to gather, the politics of it is very important and therefore necessary for countries to critically analyze their NDCs before they submit them.

The intended nationally determined contributions of every country of the UNFCCC which is supposed to represent the country’s position and commitment to combatting climate change in line with the sustainable development goals (SDG) 13 which is stop climate change, 14 which is protect the ocean and 15 which is taking care of the earth must be carefully looked at and the inputs made must critically take into consideration or account, the future of our children and the unborn generation.

Therefore having a careful look at the NDCs submitted by some of the developing countries and if that is the toll others are going to take, then it is evident that we would not be able to achieve the 2ᵒc target or 1.5 degree set for global temperature and the low carbon emissions which we want to achieve. Although some countries like Gabon have withdrew their NDCs to review them, it is worth noting that Morocco on the other hand have done a great job in their NDCs and we believe that they should be a beacon for others to follow so as to effectively achieve the 2ᵒc set global temperature target. It will be more prudent for the Annex 1 countries, the EU, the US, Canada and others should do better and show robust leadership by withdrawing their NDCs and scaling up their contributions. Abibinsroma Foundation believe if we really want to make significant progress then the NDCs should be more ambitious.

This will help after the adoption at the cop in the achievement to low carbon emissions, a green economy and the 2ᵒc global temperature set target. Abibinsroma Foundation is calling on the Developing countries to do more in the preparation of their NDCs and those that have submitted must withdraw and review their NDCs by improving their contributions. The adaption measures taken by countries that have submitted their NDCs are vague and will not really address climate issues adaption. A more practical steps must be taken as adaptation measures to make it more feasible, realistic and achievable.

Establish key principles to guide its implementation, some of which are already contained in the Convention, and some of which, such as respect for human rights Of all, should not be left behind;

 

A universal core agreement that binds all Parties under international law, to take effect from2020. This should take the form of a Protocol or another ancillary agreement with the same effect. The requirement of ratification is usually strong evidence of countries’ intent to be bound.

 

By Kenneth Nana Amoateng

AbibNsroma Foundation

 

Wood Cookstown in Ghana

Families reliant on wood or biomass fuels for cooking there are a host of health problems tied to their use of cooking fires:

Smoke inhalation:  In many countries, women and young children spend hours a day in smoky cook houses. The biomass (wood, animal dung and crop residue) used as fuel gives off toxic smoke at about seven times the safe limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA). According to the WHO, every twenty seconds a person dies from this condition known as Indoor Air Pollution (IAP). IAP can lead to lung cancer, low birth rate, cataracts, bronchitis, TB, higher infant mortality and asthma as well as pneumonia and other respiratory infections which are the biggest killers of children under five years of age in the developing world.

Back and neck injuries:  Smoke inhalation is not the only health risk. Women and children also suffer back and neck injuries from gathering and carrying fuel wood. Children often burn themselves by falling into cooking fires. The injuries and diseases caused by the use of cooking fires can only be relieved by introducing less labor-intensive and cleaner cooking methods.

Severe burns: It is not uncommon for young children playing near cooking fires (particularly when the fires are temporarily un-attended by an adult) to step or fall into fires, suffering acute burn injuries.

Abibiman Foundation

http://m.myjoyonline.com/marticles/news/thousands-of-youths-marched-in-solidarity-with-action2015-campaign-in-ghana

Child marriage in Ghana

Child marriage is undoubtedly a global menace that affects millions of women every year and, unfortunately, Ghana falls within the category of the nations with the highest prevalence rates, with around one in four girls marrying prior to her 18th birthday

 The 2010 population and census report made a startled revelation on the status of adolescents and children in our society. But just like all matters related to the health of the adolescent girl, that revelation has not received any attention from policy makers and social justice advocates. In the census report published in 2012, table 11 contained data on the population 12-17 years by sex, marital status and region.

The data indicated that out of a total of 3,254,007 children within 12-17 years old, 176,103 representing 5.4% were married. Yes, married as children! The situation is more disturbing when one takes a careful look at the data at the regional level. For instance, in the three regions of Northern, Upper East and Upper west alone, out of a total of 567,554 children between the ages of 12 to 17 years, 43,311 of them were married. Among these married children of the three regions of the north, 23,050 were girls. Indeed, based on these statistics, it has been estimated by the UNFPA that if present trends in child marriage continue unchanged, by the year 2030 more than 407,000 of girls born between 2005 and 2010 will be married before the age of 18.

It is impossible for any nation to address poverty, gender equality, maternal and child mortality with this kind of statistics. Early marriage as it were contravenes the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It  threatens  the  achievement  of  the  main  goals of  eradicating  extreme  poverty  and  hunger,  achieving  universal  primarily education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, and reducing child mortality. A later marriage is a precondition for the attainment of girls’ personal goals of completing school, acquiring key skills and understanding roles in family and in society, which are closely linked to the MDGs.

When a young girl becomes a bride, the consequences are lifelong – for the girl, for her family and for the nation. The common thread in child marriage is that the girl herself has no say. She is robbed of her rights and her childhood. Child marriage undermines efforts to reduce abject poverty and to build a society that is more equal.

Child marriage is a grave breach of a child's human rights and contrary to international and Ghanaian national laws.  It is a violation of human rights, contravening both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Ending child marriage will accelerate efforts to achieve a safe, healthy and more prosperous future for girls in Ghana.

Recognising the special needs of women and children, the Constitution, the Children’s Act (560) and the Criminal Code reflect the belief that children and adolescents under the age of 18 do not possess the maturity and the mental capacity necessary to make real and informed decisions about entering into legally binding relationships such as marriage.   

Child marriage is practised in all areas of Ghana and there exists certain causative factors that increase the likelihood of it occurring. Girls’ access to education, for example, is a major determining factor. According to the 2011 Multiple Indicator Survey, girls who complete secondary or higher education are far less likely to fall victim to child marriage than those who have no education.  

Poverty is another correlative factor in child marriage. The 2008 GDHS indicated that women in poor households were more likely to enter into early marriages than those from richer households. Where poverty is present, marrying off a daughter enables households to reduce family expenses by ensuring they have one less person to feed, clothe and educate. In certain communities in Ghana, marriage is also accompanied with the payment of a bride price, which can serve as a source of income for a family. The presentation of gifts to families acts as an incentive to convince them to give their daughters for marriage.

The lack of an adequate legislative framework that can be enforced to address cases of child marriage. Even though Ghana has legislation for a minimum legal age for sex and for marriage, this is often not effectively enforced.

The lack of harmonisation with customary laws that may condone the practice of child marriage. Globally, child marriage is generally more prevalent in jurisdictions that offer fewer protections for women and girls. The high prevalence of child marriage in Ghana is an indication of the societal attitude towards women and girls.

Strict adherence to traditional and religious doctrines also plays a major role in Ghana’s high rates of child marriage. Most Ghanaian communities are governed by a strong code of traditional and religious beliefs which may tend to encourage practices and mindsets used to justify child marriage.  For instance, the Ghanaian traditional setting and religious society both share the opinion that pregnancy before marriage is a disgrace to the family.  

This belief leads to the conclusion that child marriage is a preventive safety measure to protect the girl child against immoral behaviour. But for most of the perpetrators, child marriage is just a traditional practice that is repeated simply because it has happened for generations and straying from tradition could mean exclusion from the community. 

Gender inequality is another major contributory factor. With regard to child marriage this gender inequity is clearly apparent in the fact that the number of female victims far outnumbers the males. Failure to properly implement laws designed to protect children from being forced into marriage undermines Ghana’s legal system, providing little incentive for perpetrators to stop, and leaving victims with little to no protection.

The impact of child marriage on our developmental process as a nation is obvious. Child marriage is linked to poverty and impacts national productivity. Child marriage is most common in the poorest regions and is often concentrated among the poorest households. It is closely linked with low levels of economic development.

There is evidence indicating that girls from poor families are nearly twice as likely to marry before 18 as girls from wealthier families, as marriage is often seen as a way to provide for a daughter’s future. However, the truth is that girls who marry young are more likely to be poor and remain poor.

Girls who marry young do not receive the educational and economic opportunities that help lift them out of poverty and which are necessary to build a sustainable and prosperous future for their communities. Educated and healthy women work more productively, contributing to greater national productivity and higher GDP. They spend more money on food, housing, education and income-generating activities, all of which reduce poverty levels and promote sustainable development.

Child marriage undermines a child’s right to education. Child marriage denies children of school age their right to the education they need for their personal development, their preparation for adulthood, and their ability to contribute to their family and community. Married girls who would like to continue schooling may be both practically and customary excluded from doing so. Girls with higher levels of schooling are less likely to marry as children. With more than half of Ghana’s population under the age of 25, educating youth is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future.

Child marriage entrenches gender inequality. Child brides have little say in whether, when or whom they will marry. In many cases their husbands are much older. Available evidence shows that girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience violence within marriage than girls who marry later.

Marriage often ends girls’ opportunities for education, better paid work outside the home, and potential decision making roles in their communities. Eliminating gender inequalities and empowering young women requires the fulfilment of girls’ basic needs and their rights such as education, health and nutrition, which are undermined by child marriage.

Ending child marriage will help to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. Child brides are under intense social pressure to prove their fertility, which makes them more likely to experience early and frequent pregnancies. Close to 90% of adolescent pregnancies in the country are to girls who are already married.

Early pregnancy endangers child brides’ health because many become pregnant before their bodies can safely carry or deliver children. It is particularly severe for girls who give birth before the age of 15 as evidence show that they are five times more likely to die in childbirth than girls in their 20s. Perinatal deaths are 50% higher among babies born to mothers under 20 years of age than among those born to mothers aged 20–29 years.

According to the International Centre for Research on Women, girls younger than 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s. Further, infants born to young mothers are more likely to be stillborn or die in the first month of life. Child brides also suffer from the burden of early motherhood, early widowhood, and in cases where the marriage breaks down, are subjected to unequal divorce settlements.. 

Adolescent girls and young children by nature do not have a voice. Their lives are determined by a complex set of interactions between a host of social and demographic factors. The magnitude of these interactions is determined by factors both endigenous (e.g., sex, age or ethnic affiliation) and exogenous (e.g., social, political and economic environments or urban versus rural area of residence) to the young people themselves.

What are you doing about it? My last call goes to this grey group call “civil society”. How civil can a society be if girls are brides? Let’s rise up and advocate for a comprehensive national strategy to address child marriage in the country. Together, we can do something to protect the rights and health of the adolescent girl!

No absolute conclusions can be made about the relationships between these factors, the direction of causality or how they impact each young person. Drawing these types of conclusions is not the purpose of this article as more in-depth and complex research would be necessary to begin answering the question.

 IDAY Ghana organized the day for the African Child in Lakpleku a community in the Ningo/Prampram district on the 16th of June to address the issue of child marriage among girl child under the theme “Accelerating Our Collective Efforts To End Child Marriage And Promote Girl Child Education.”