Germany invests € 50 million into WASCAL

Germany is investing € 50 million into the West African Science Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL).

The investment is to enable WASCAL develop it basic infrastructure as it seeks to fulfil its mission of training climate change researchers.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said this during the West African Ministers of WASCAL Conference in Accra on Monday.

He said climate change is an all-encompassing threat that is destroying livelihoods and affecting many across the globe.

“It is a threat to the world’s supply of fresh water, our source of life and threat to the world’s food supply as rising temperatures and prolonged draught renders fertile areas unfit for grazing or crops,” the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central said.

Mr Ayariga said the offer by the Germany to assist West African States with the establishment of a Climate Change Service Centre to support regional efforts in combating climate change is timely.

He said the study of climate change science requires enormous investment that may not be economical for one country alone to undertake.

Mr Ayariga said the establishment of WASCAL is necessary to harness regional efforts for the collective benefit as it would help find solutions and answers to the major questions pervading in the field of climate change and sustainable land use.

Mr Ayariga said through the graduate programmes of WASCAL, Ghana would be able to close its large deficit in the training of highly skilled experts capable of facing the scientific challenges of climate change.

Mr Ruediger John, German Ambassador, said Germany is committed to ensure that West African countries are prepared to combat the issues of climate change.

WASCAL was created in 2012 by the 10 West African States namely Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Togo and Senegal.