USAID/Ghana Economic Growth Office Director, Kevin Sharp presenting his message
The USAID/Ghana Economic Growth Office Director, Kevin Sharp has expressed his appreciation to the government of Ghana for “being a strong partner” in the quest for the protection and management of Ghana’s natural resources.
He expressed the sentiment at an in-kind grant presentation ceremony at Wechiau in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.
The in-kind grant initiative is component of a five-year project designed to support the capacity building process of project communities with equipment other logistical support for them to conserve and sustainably utilize natural resources.
A report by GBC’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo says the Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Project (AgNRM) which is running from 2016 to 2021 is intended to alleviate poverty as well as create economic opportunities from resources like dawadawa, shea, moringa and tamarind in beneficiary communities.
The implementing partners of AgNRM are Winrock International, TechnoServe, Nature Conservation research Centre and Center for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies.
Mr. Sharp equally recognized the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission for the work is doing to enhance the development of what he termed “local communities” in Northern Ghana.
He indicated that the strong efforts of all stakeholders will increase food security and safeguard the environment and ultimately improve the circumstances of the vulnerable, especially women and children.
The USAID AgNRM Agreement Officer Representative (AOR), Gloria Odoom handed over the in-kind grant package to the Chairman of the Wechiau Community Resource Management Area (CREMA), Abdul-Sumani Kasim who in turn presented the equipment to the DCE and the Chiefs and elders of Wechiau.
The DCE for Wa West, Edward Laabiir Sabo was beside himself with joy in relation to the in-kind presentation to the District, saying the package will go a long way to assist the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary Board to effectively manage the area.
The DCE also praised the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission for implementing the community Resource Management Area (CREMA) model in Ghana adding that a number of CREMAs in Wa West have done a yeoman’s job in biodiversity conservation.
Mr. Sabo called for a strong collaboration between the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary and the District Assembly in order to generate the needed revenue for the community members and the Assembly.
He announced that the Wa West District Assembly is in the process of preparing its Medium Term Development Plan for 2018-2021 and entreated USAID to support the Assembly to develop community baseline maps to enable the District update its existing maps.
Mr. Sharp and Madam Odoom were presented with smocks as token gratitude for their collaborative support to the Wechiau Community Resource Management Area.
