eforestation, Desertification, Savannisation….all these “tion” are constantly droning in our ears. Actually, nowadays the ‘tion’ song is one of the most played in radios, televisions and Kwahu North workshops. But…what these long words mean? Why it looks Dlike the whole public opinion is focusing on them? District Profile The answer is surprisingly simple: they are the only useful words to compiled by Frempong Kennedy describe the rapidly changing surrounding reality: unsustainable natural resources management practices are increasingly depleting the environment t covers 5,040 sq. km. which is one-third of the total landmass of the entire Eastern jeopardizing the existence of the present and future generations. October to March. The Kwahu North District has Region and lies between latitudes 6º40 several historic and natural sites which could be South’ and 7º10’ North and longitudes Ricerca e Cooperazione (RC), an Italian NGO which is working in Ghana developed into tourist attractions. These include I0º40’ West and 0º10’East. Topographically ,Afram since 1987 and Afram Plains Development Organization (APDO), a Obour Abodwese at Atonso, Obour Akroma at Plains is relatively flat land that rise from 60m Ghanaian NGO funded in Afram Plains in the eighties decided to join their Kyemfre, Bobi Forest Reserve and Digya National to 120m above sea level and close to 3,000 sq. efforts and their expertise, not only to identify the reasons of the “tions”, Park. but also to provide practical and simply solutions to support in particularly km of water of Lake Volta which formed behind the Afram Plains people to face this ecological, social and economic drama. Akosombo Dam after the flooding of the Volta According to official projections of the year 2,000 Lake`, starting in 1964. the population was going to reach 162,000 by the year 2004, scattered over 685 towns, villages As a consequence, this newsletter on one side, aims to give some clear The Afram Plains used to be densely forested, but and helmets with about one- third of them living information about the meaning of these ‘tions”. Furthermore, it will generally is now a degraded savannah and gradually turning on islands in the Volta Lake. The population is Editorial present the debate which is worldwide evolving around these environmental into desert due to deforestation for agriculture, male dominant with the male representing 53% and socio-economic topics. indiscriminate massive charcoal production and the female making up 47%. The higher male and repeated annual bushfires which have also population is due to the fact that the district is a On the other side, through articles, interviews and testimonies from scientists, driven away the once abundant wildlife and typical migrant destination. The average annual politicians, traditional rulers, farmers, employers in the public and private seriously reduced its overall biodiversity. Annual population growth rate is 2.4% which is very high sector, it will offer the reader the opportunity to understand the subjects rainfall is about 1,140-1,400mm depending on compared to the regional growth rate of 1.4%, from different perspective. location. The rainy season goes from April to (making it difficult for development projects with September and the dry season also lasts from mid A special section is dedicated to the youth. In fact, although adults have to an environmental component to have a real long- fight to preserve the hearth for the next generation, we believe youth play lasting impact). a prominent role embracing sustainable natural resources management MAP OF KWAHU NORTH DISTRICT Cont. on P. 5 practices and in creating new eco solutions. AFRAM PLAINS

Finally, the principal aim of this news letter is to create awareness about the causes and the possible solutions that can be find to stop this ecological and social disaster, through the exemplification of the different actions, activities and projects that are carried on principally in the Afram Plains, by Ricerca e Cooperazione in collaboration with Afram Plains Development Organization and also by other different actors.

It is not a fight against a foreign enemy, the fight against desertification is a fight against established habits we have acquired and consolidated in time. To devastate the natural environment is like wiping out our source of survival. To win this battle we have to change our common habits, our day by day way of leaving. Only if we learn how to live respecting nature we can assure our children and grandchildren will still have a place where to live meaningfully.

Micol Sandrini, RC Project Director and Mr. E.Y. O. Modoc, APDO Executive Director

2 Newsletter Newsletter 3 RC Tease NURSERY, fetching of cassia’s seedlings to be distributed in the communities The three main results the project is eager to reach at the end of the three year:

Kwasi Kuma RC nursery

FIRST RESULT: enhanced attention of municipalities and local institutions towards the sustainable charcoal production and the use of alternative energy sources. To attain this result the project will implement the following activities: awareness creation campaign, workshops, creation of a forestry forum for the protection and sustainable management of natural resources, creation of a network for the sustainable use of natural resources and for the fight against desertification, production of a documentary on the production of charcoal and the concomitant increase of desertification, campaign for advocacy and lobbying, newsletters, website and documentary.

SECOND RESULT: the agro-forestry resources managed for charcoal production, in a sustainable way, increased. The following actions will be carried out by the project to accomplish the aim: training for DA, FSD, NADMO, traditional chiefs; agro-forestry training for farmers and charcoal producers; formation of charcoal producers `associations; diffusion of gas, equipment for the use of gas and other alternative energies tools; planting of cassia and food crops; training for the production of charcoal (efficient techniques of Fighting against desertification combustion); planting of indigenous tree species along water courses. In Afram Plains and Ga District in the Eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions – Ghana Finally the THIRD RESULT will be: charcoal production, certified as “legal”, is realized through wood planted for this purpose. Two of the main activities: formulation of a model for local certification and the s a three year project created and promoted by a progressive desertification as a consequence thanks to the strong synergy between an Italian of heavy charcoal production in the Afram Plains adoption of a local certification of eco-sustainable charcoal production. NGO, Ricerca e Cooperazione (RC) and a and especially in the districts of Kwahu North and Ghanaian NGO, Afram Plains Development Sekyere East in Ghana. IOrganization (A.P.D.O.). The main operational project area is the Kwahu Both the NGOs work in Afram Plains since the North and Sekyere East Afram Plains district Cont. frm. P. 3 late ‘80s, and they had already collaborated in and it involves the communities of Tease, Dim, Kwahu North District Profile different occasions. However, for the first time they Taylorkope, Kuasi Kunde, Asanyansu, Bonkrom finally have the opportunity to join their forces to and Dome and all the main communities around Besides the district capital Donkorkrom with about 8,000 inhabitants, the second largest town is Mame develop an entire project together. this area, such as Odumasua, Sakabo, Hwanyanso Krobo in the southwest with close to 5,000 inhabitants – centre for yam production and trade. Other and Nsogyaso. New communities are joining towns of about 3,000 people are Ekye Amanfrom- where the pontoon crosses an arms length of River The project started in January 2009 and its end is every year to the old ones helping, through their Afram to Adawso on the way to Nkawkaw. “Ekye” as it is locally called, is the major point of transit for forecasted for January 2012. participation and enthusiasms, to achieve the charcoal trucks on their way to Accra; Forifori, Tease, Amankwaa, and Agodeke- where the other pontoon objective. crosses Volta Lake to Kpando Torko in the Volta Region. The main funding agency is the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the total budget, 1.678.849 In fact, as already underlined, the overall project Agriculture provides more than half of the employment in the district, accounting for 80% of the labour Euros, is a coo-financing efforts of the following: objective is to improve the wellbeing of people force. The service sector follows with 17.5% while industry employs 2.5%. Large scale production of 49,97% Italian Government; 15.02 %ONG RC; through better environmental management. maize, yam and cassava, as well as legumes such as beans, cowpea and groundnuts and vegetables is 35,01%in kind contribution from NGO APDO undertaken. Tree crops such as cashew, mango, citrus and oil palm are also cultivated. Added to all these and Beneficiaries. Consequently, the project target beneficiaries are are the strong potential for the cultivation of non-traditional crops such as sunflower, ginger, black and basically: 1) farmers living in the target villages that green hot pepper. The three main project’s Overall objectives are: A. will receive direct assistance for trees and foodcrops The industrial sector is the smallest sector of the district economy. It employs only 2.5% of the total labour The improvement of the biodiversity indicators: B. planting and will be trained in sustainable use force. The type of industrial activities in the district can be categorised based on their primary input or Poverty reduction; C. The improvement of the soil of natural resources; 2) charcoal producers who quality. will be trained on efficient charcoal production raw materials. The wood industry is the largest (42.1%) and includes chain-saw operation and carpentry. technologies. In addition some Accra and Afram This is followed by masonry (20%), and then metal-based manufacturing(10%),including welding and While the Specific Objective is to rehabilitate and Plains families will receive assistance in order to steel bending The ceramics industry concentrated primarily at Bebuso and Adeemmra, also holds strong manage in a sustainable way the areas affected learn alternative option of domestic energy. potential due to the presence of large clay deposits in the district .

4 Newsletter Newsletter 5 Frequently asked questions about the project

Why intercropping? Why does the project focus on planting cassia and mahogany and not other trees species? YOUTH CORNER Because most of the time the Cassia had been selected because all the technician consulted signaled this species as the farmer access to land is limited, as A special thanks to pupil’s of Agotime JHS, Donkorkrom, Kwahu North consequence s/he is forced to use best to produce charcoal: it grows very fast (first harvest in 4 years) and has high productivity the same land for multipurpose; of wood after first cut; it grows in every kind of soil; it has good stress tolerance and also resistant to drought; has multiple uses –fuel wood, charcoal, medicinal from leaves and Because it helps to maintain the flowers; it has good coppicing ability; due to the small size and non-shedding of its leaves it field (from weeds) free; is easy to keep the planted field clean to prevent bushfires. Because it is the best way to Mahogany had been selected because is an indigenous tree and eco-compatible, its timber maximize in an eco-sustainable is very valuable; furthermore it is easy to grow as it does not necessitate many care; it can way the protective attributes grow in many soils and when planted along rivers its roots help to stabilize soil erosion. of forestry with the productive characteristics of both forestry and agriculture to create more Mr. Gideon, Taylorkope, Farmer diverse, integrated, healthy and Who can participate in the project? sustainable land-use system. A Everyone who has at least one acres of In fact, the trees (leaves, twigs, land available to be planted; barks etc) will help to reconstitute/ recycle the soil nutrients of the B. Everyone whose willing is to get into field; the ECO SUSTAINABLE charcoal business To maximize economic profit; or into the ECO SUSTSAINABLE timber while waiting for the trees to business; grow enough to be harvested the farmer can still get profit from C. Everyone who has a space and think that food crops cultivation plants can improve his life (school garden, public spaces, etc).

Will the person who Which are the major challenges that you encountered Which are your main future participates in the during the first year of project? challenges? activity receive money, cash or loan? 1. Local prejudices against certain tree species, LEGALIZE eco-sustainable charcoal production; especially cassia. In fact some people claim NO. No cash, no loan, cassia sucks all the water from the soil. This is REINFORCE local bylaws to avoid no any form of money. scientifically untruth, on the opposite, cassia do uncontrolled bushfire; But the beneficiary not suck most of the nutrients in the ground and will receive for FREE thanks to its small and very biodegradable leaves IMPROVE land management; seedlings, intercropping helps to reconstitute the ground biomass; SUPPORT the design of written land lease agreement to protect trees seeds, some very basic 2. Land accessibility: In some cases chiefs were not plantation equipment, any kind willing to lease land, in some other the villagers of punctual technical had no more land to use for this kind of activity; INCREASE the number of support, different type 3. Seedlings transportations/road networks: during communities involved in the project of training and s/he will the rainy season some of the places are difficult and specifically in tree planting; be part of a network to reach with the truck which should deliver the INVOLVE more actors, such as of initiatives which seedlings to the farmers; institutions like schools, in the directly or indirectly 4. Farmers commitment: some of the farmers who project activities; will benefit him/her or showed an initial enthusiasms for the activity, his/her community. later on did not planted the seedlings collected, or did not take care of the small plants.

6 Newsletter Newsletter 7 for the natives or workers here to harm this area FOCUS ON ... CHARCOAL ... let the people talking! and make life difficult in the future. Nana Akuamoah Boateng (Adontehene, Donkorkrom): RC: In your opinion how do you see the uncontrolled charcoal production in the future? If we are able to replant back the cut ones then RC: How do you forecast environmental we still have forest in Afram Plains. One way of problems and challenges in Afram Plains now and controlling the production of charcoal is reducing in the future? 5. The introduction of tree planting on farms Rev Fr Paul-Adiembra Parish: We should not even its use and introduce other sources of alternative in every community by the people and for call it uncontrollable. It should not even exist. For energy, in this case gas. There should be adequate the people. It should be the responsibility of Nana Akuamoah Boateng me, there is nothing like controlling the production education about the use of gas; its availability and the traditional chiefs to release lands for the (Adontehene, Donkorkrom): In the 1940s there of charcoal in Afram Plains. If the production of affordability in the rural areas whereby everybody planting of trees. was thick forest all over the Afram Plains and charcoal continues, all the trees will be hewn can use it comparatively cheaper than the use of down and the forest and its natural vegetative people from other parts of Kwahu trooped here charcoal in our home. for hunting. This practice continued till 1983 Rev Fr Paul-Adiembra Parish: cover will turn to plain land and desertification of the area will expand. Already, we can see a sign of when there was massive bushfire destroying the RC: In your opinion how do you see the RC: How do you forecast environmental this situation at Madagascar in Afram Plains, where evergreen forest to bare land. uncontrolled charcoal production in the future? problems and challenges in Afram Plains now the forest land has become a desert. Farmers found it easy to cultivate vast land for and in the future? maize, groundnuts, cowpea and other crops RC: In your opinion what should be done to with little sweat. From that time some farmers Nana Akuamoah Boateng Rev Fr Paul-Adiembra Parish: For the coming improve on the situation in Afram Plains? intentionally set fires into the bush every year for (Adontehene,Donkorkrom): In my candid opinion, five years, I feel that total desertification will set in the cultivation of their farms. As a result of this if the production of charcoal is not controlled Afram Plains if nothing is done now to arrest the bad practice, most trees became dead and Sissala our expectation will be short-lived. There will be situation. The rate at which the charcoal burners Rev Fr Paul-Adiembra Parish: The District Chief people used the dead wood for the production of no more bumper harvest of food crops; famine; carry out their activities if not check can cause a Executive and the District Forestry Manager should charcoal. They continued this activity till all the diseases; excessive heat as we experience these total drought which will lead to hunger since crops be held responsible for the ongoing charcoal dead ones finished and started using life trees to months is as a result of the destruction of forest in cannot grow. Already the drought has set in due to production. I think they have power to enforce the produce charcoal. Afram Plains. Rivers and streams will dry up and the destruction of the rain-forest in Afram Plains district bye-laws to bring this situation to an end. right now we experience shorter raining season The local indigenes found the charcoal business Since they failed this illegal business because it is and longer drying season and this situation will very lucrative and have very good income in the RC: Charcoal production is it good or bad for beneficial to them, the only way forward is to fall continue to deteriorate as the years roll by. shortest time. Hence many people turned to the the economy of Afram Plains? on the central government to come to the aid of massive production of charcoal thereby cutting Afram Plains. RC: In your opinion what should be done to down the remaining few trees in Afram Plains for improve on the situation in Afram Plains? charcoal production. Rev Fr Paul-Adiembra Parish: Charcoal production, according to the Now, my concern is that if this activity is not District Forestry Manager, the District checked or managed on a sustainable basis very Nana Akuamoah Boateng Coordinating Director and the revenue soon the area will turn into desert. Currently we (Adontehene,Donkorkrom): collectors, levies caters for more than are experiencing semi-forest which is growing to 1. All the stakeholders should be involved in the 80% of the total revenue for the district. savannah with resultant low yield of farm crops. fight against the growing threat of desertification So for the district officials, charcoal Also due to rapid growth in population many of 2. The chiefs are the mouth pieces of the people production is good. For me it is very the forest lands have been cleared for human in the communities and the most powerful unfortunate because, these officials settlements and other activities thus destroying the leaders hence they should be well resourced only think of today, not the havoc it good vegetation of the area. to sensitize the people to curb the wanton can cause in the future. In my opinion destruction of the environment. charcoal production is very bad and RC: Charcoal production is it good or bad for 3. The central government should empower the should not be encouraged in any case. the economy of Afram Plains? traditional chiefs who are the custodians of The government should ignore the ideas the lands to see to it that no illegal production of the district officials and enforce laws of charcoal are carry out in their respective from above to stop charcoal production Nana Akuamoah Boateng communities which does not promote the integrity of (Adontehene, Donkorkrom): In the first place, creation. It is absurd and unthinkable charcoal production per se is not bad. It only 4. The District Assembly and local opinion leaders becomes bad if we do not control its production. should enforce their respective bye-laws.

8 Newsletter Newsletter 9 FOCUS ON ... WOODFUEL

…maybe you do not know that…

There are several million people in Ghana that DO NOT have access to modern form of energy such as electricity, gas, solar photovoltaic, and oil to cook their food, light and heat their homes. These people derive energy from traditional sources including burning of wood, crop energy sub-sector contributes to about 1.81% of the Gross residues, and animal dung. It has been Domestic Product, and indirectly supports the livelihood of over three million Ghanaians, mostly small-scale commercial estimated that 95% of energy consumed The primary indigenous annually is derived from woodfuels and household enterprises. Production of woodfuel energy comprised of: 94.5% constitutes one important source of seasonal off-farm income and the Ghana Living Standards Survey for many rural communities in the three northern regions and (GLSS4) estimated that about 84% of woodfuels, 5.3% hydro energy transitional zones of the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti including the rural households and 25% of urban 0.2% solar (mostly sun-drying Afram Plains. households depend on woodfuels for cooking and heating. of crops). The annual per capita consumption of woodfuels is estimated around 1,080 kg and about 14 million m3 of wood are consumed annually for energy production. Available data has indicated that people do not easily substitute fuel and therefore the volume of woodfuel consumption in Ghana could rise to 20 million m3 by the year 2010 with an annual Importance of the Woodfuel sub-sector growth rate of 4.0%. (Government of Ghana Ministry of Energy, “Revised draft National Woodfuel policy”) In the national accounts, woodfuels are a foreign currency savings. Although it is not recognised in the current accounts, about US$560 million, which would have been used to he woodfuel business is a major source of and a main one for some rural groups and urban import other forms of energy, is saved annually by woodfuels. employment for most rural and the urban traders. Except in few places, woodfuel production Charcoal exports from Ghana to Europe and Asia are valued poor people. It has been estimated that is predominantly income-generating activity for at US$400,000 annually. about 0.45 million people are directly women. It has been estimated that more than 84 Tinvolved in both the production, transportation per cent of all people engaged in the woodfuel Woodfuels are also a source of fiscal revenue for the Forest and marketing of fuels in the country as a primary business are women. The men usually derive their Services Division, Traditional Authorities and some District occupation, whiles over 2 million people engage in income almost exclusively from farming activities Assemblies. On the average some District Assemblies collect the trade as secondary occupation. During the dry i.e. the selling of (cash) crops and/or where possible ¢85 million as monthly levies from woodfuels although more seasons, however, more rural farmers especially in as seasonal migrant labourers on other farms. than 70% of the potential revenue are not collected. the savannah and the transitional regions (mostly Charcoal and firewood production are considered women) engage in woodfuel production and a drudgery that does not give a high enough return trading as the primary occupation. on their labour.

Woodfuels are source of cash income for rural and Based on the value of the annual wood harvested urban population (off-season and/or permanent). for fuel, it could be estimated the traditional It is a supplementary income for typical farmers

10 Newsletter Newsletter 11 Topic of the day: • deforestation caused by logging and land lead to reduced soil fertility. clearing for agriculture In an impoverished environment, agriculture the of • grazing- grass fires to stimulate fresh grass producing one or two crops in the same field BENEFIT BIODIVERSITY growth for cattle requires the use of insecticides in the absence of From François Reuter (Consultant for RC, January 2010) • uncontrolled bushfires for hunting or field natural enemies that normally take care of insects. preparation for farming • charcoal production Consequences of doing nothing Introduction The Afram Plains • overhunting What will happen if the current loss of biodiversity iodiversity is Nature’s great variety • overfishing The Afram Plains traditionally are classified as part continues? According to Paul Ehrlich, the father of animal and plant life on land and • overgrazing of the Transition Zone ecosystem which was very of American ecology ”...crop yields will be more in water in any given area. Various • overpopulation rich in plant and animal life - including fishes in the difficult to maintain in the face of climatic change, plant and animal communities form • misuse of agricultural pesticides and Afram River and now Lake Volta. soil erosion, loss of dependable water supplies, Ban interdependency called “ecosystem” held weedicides Here is what the 4th National Report of Ghana’s decline of pollinators (e.g. bees) and ever more together like threads of a spider web. Pulling on Unfortunately many of the above practices National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan says serious assaults by pests. Conversion of productive one will influence the rest, destroying one can continue, the single worst one being bushfires, about the Transition Zone in general: land to wasteland will accelerate; deserts will have disastrous consequences for the whole followed by uncontrolled charcoal production the continue their seemingly inexorable expansion...” system. “This zone was formerly a forested area but now tax on which is one of the major sources of income The higher the number of different species or of the District Assembly. rapidly turning into savannah and expanding Cutting the trees in a savannah will lead to a the more “diversified” its plant and animal life further into the moist forest zone. There is rapid grassland ecosystem with fewer animal and is, the more tolerant an ecosystem is to human Effects of biodiversity loss deforestation and loss of watersheds. There is plant species etc. The next step might very well interference. Conversely, the poorer the diversity, decline in soil fertility...” The results are climate changes, such as fewer be desertification or rather treeless savannahs the more vulnerable it is. Here is what happened: After humans recently but more torrential rains, causing soil erosion and dominated by grasses, with a low biodiversity destroyed the dense natural forests which used to hotter weather i.e. more floods and droughts. index. In the National Biodiversity Strategy for Ghana be the home for many wild animals, pretty well (USAID-Penn State). of 2002, the main threats to biodiversity are gone now, grasses - Guinea grass, spear grass as Local residents interviewed during the recent listed as being: deforestation, desertification, well as the introduced “Acheampong “weeds charcoal consultancy indicate that streams that bushfires, hunting, mining, the misapplication have taken over and now dominate much of the used to run year round are drying up, partly as a of chemicals, etc. That document defines landscape . Unfortunately people take pleasure result of the removal of the natural tree cover which overexploitation as “excessive cutting of trees in burning the grasses in the dry season. These kept the air cool and protected water courses. in stressed environments for firewood as energy bushfires destroy animals, trees, top soil and When asked - during our charcoal survey - what source”. even homes and contribute to the environmental changes the person had noticed in the natural degradation and to the loss of biodiversity. environment in the last 10 years the answers were Many scientists link biodiversity to sustainable in decreasing number of answers: development. Development is sustainable Here are the major causes which lead to the loss of 1. Lower rainfall or irregular rainfall pattern (70 if it meets the needs of the present without biodiversity in the Afram Plains: answers) compromising the ability of future generations 2. Forest turning to grassland (45) to meet their own needs. The three major 3. Soil fertility gone down (30) components of sustainable development are 4. Crop yields gone down (26) economic, social and environmental. The 5. Water bodies have dried up (20) “degradation” of any one of these three will 6. Loss of biodiversity (20) lead to serious consequences for the other two, 7. High temperatures (7) putting sustainable development into question. 8. Erosion due to loss of trees and vegetation In other words, Nature cannot be totally cover (3) ignored in Government policies or industrial Charcoal production undoubtedly contributes to development or even social programs, if they points 6 and 7. are to be truly sustainable in the long run. Even Extermination of the enemies of insects and pests modern city life depends on a relatively healthy – a usual result of ad lib pesticide spraying – can Nature throughout the country. terminate the (natural) pest control services of an The loss of biodiversity is the result of activities ecosystem and often leads to severe pest outbreaks such as food production and using energy (Lester (Paul Ehrlich). Brown). The destruction of soil organisms (e.g. by fire) can Volta Lake, Dim, tree submerged by the water Bonkrom, group of Agro-Forestry farmers in a cassia and yam plantation 12 Newsletter Newsletter 13 Overview of Some Development Projects in Afram Plains

Name of Organization: World Vision Ghana

Title of the project: Afram Plains Area Development Programme Main Domain of the project: Child Sponsorship, Health, Education Name of Organization: Social and Economic Relief Foundation (SERF) Partnerships: Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service Donors/Funding Agencies: World Vision Korea Title of the project: Malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control General Objectives of the project: Sustained well-being of children, families and communities. Partnerships: Learning Helping Living Specific Objectives of the project: Children enjoy good health, educated for life, love God and their neighbours Donors/Funding Agencies: Malaria Control, Global Fund, GHS and M-Sharp Comment: World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, Implementation period: 3 monhts families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Budgetary Allocation: Five Thousand (GH¢5,000.00) General Objectives of the project: To create awareness about the diseases Name of Organization: Community Planning and Development Foundation (CDPF) Specific Objectives of the project: Eradicate the diseases in the Afram Plains. Comment: Getting in touch with the people on the Islands is very difficult in terms of transportation and mobilization. Title of the project: Farmer & Enterprise Training in Commercial Agriculture Contact: Office location Mem-Kyemfre, Tel: 0206314491 Donors/Funding Agencies: Millennium Development Authority Implementation period: November, 2008-September, 2011 Name of Organization: Learning Helping Living Budgetary Allocation: Seventy-Two Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢72,000.00) General Objectives of the project: Poverty reduction through increasing productivity and business skills of small and medium Title of the project: Education on Voluntary Counselling and Testing of HIV/AIDS size farmers. Main Domain of the project: To Reduce the Spread of HIV/AIDS Specific Objectives of the project: To enhance the profitability of cultivation, services to agriculture and product handling in Partnerships: KNDA, GAPVOD and Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health support of the expansion of commercial agriculture. Donors/Funding Agencies: Ghana AIDS Commission (GEF/SGP), Malaria Control, Global Fund, GHS and M-Sharp Implementation period:April, 2009-March, 2010 Name of Organization: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Budgetary Allocation: Fifty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢58,000.00) General Objectives of the project: Ensure Conservation and Rational Use of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy, Provide Title of the project: Afram Plains District Agriculture Development Project Health Education Partnerships: Forestry Services Division, Ricerca e Cooperazione (RC) Specific Objectives of the project: Educate people on HIV/AIDS, VCT and other communicable diseases Donors/Funding Agencies: African Development Bank Comment: Reduction in multiple sex partners, the spread of HIV/AIDS and proper use of condoms as well as to help people Implementation period: September, 2007-October, 2012 know their health status. Budgetary Allocation: Thirty-Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($32,500.00) Contact: P.O. Box 88, Donkorkrom-Atakora, Tel/Fax: 0207109257/0244088622 General Objectives of the project: Poverty Reduction. Specific Objectives of the project: Increasing agriculture output and improving household incomes of beneficiary farmers. Comment: Poverty is linked to environmental degradation. Improving environment would greatly enhance food security and Name of Organization: Afram Plains Development Organization (APDO) improve household incomes. Contact: MoFA Building, Donkorkrom, Tel/Fax:03242-22061/ 22021, Email: [email protected] Title of the project: Water and Sanitation Main Domain of the project: Borehole Drilling, Hygiene and Sanitation promotion and capacity building Partnerships: Name of Organization: Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) Church of Christ, Environmental Health Department, KNDA, ARHR Donors/Funding Agencies: Water AID Ghana, Water.Org, UNICEF Implementation period: 2009/2010 Title of the project: Millennium Challenge Account (Ghana Programme) Budgetary Allocation: Three Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis, Ninety Ghana Main Domain of the project: Agriculture Modernization Pesewas (GH¢ 383,861.90) Partnerships: Government of the United States of America General Objectives of the project: To enhance the Socio-economic well-being of the people of Kwahu, Krachi East and West Donors/Funding Agencies: U.S.A Government and Ten Districts in the Northern Region. Implementation period: 5 years Specific Objectives of the project: Provide capacity building to support Ten Districts in the Northern Region, Drilling of 7 Budgetary Allocation: Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Million Dollars ($547,000,000.00) boreholes by May,2010, rehabilitate 5 old boreholes by May,2010, construct 3 small water systems by March, 2010 and reach General Objectives of the project: Poverty reduction through economic growth 2,000 people with information on safe hygiene practices. Specific Objectives of the project: Comment: These interventions are impacting tremendously on the lives of target communities. We hope the collaboration 1. To increase the production and productivity of high value cash and food staple crops in the intervention zones in Ghana. with our donors will be sustained in order for better results to be realized. 2. To enhance competitiveness of Ghana’s high value cash and food crops in both local and international markets. Contact: Kwahu North District Assembly, Donkorkrom, Tel: 03242-22055

14 Newsletter Newsletter 15 Your opinion about...BUSHFIRE George Addai-Bonkrom Curbing Repeated Bushfires in Afram Plains An Eye Witness Account By Frempong Kennedy by George Addai-Bonkrom Interviewed by Solomon he Kwahu North Distric,t formely facilitate the early and fast growth of fresh grass for Nana Baffoe known as Afram Plains, undoubtedly livestock to graze on. Honey hunters are also likely I have lived here in Bonkrom had suffered devastating vegetation culprits, as usually in the struggle to rob the hive, for over 25years now. In time transition over the past years. Once there is confusion between the angered bees and past a lot of forest vegetation Ta massive cocoa growing area with thick forest their attackers, in the ensuing stampede between Donkorkrom – Ekye main road sides, bushfire in February 2010 with hitherto rare animals such and lush vegetation is now faced with consistent man and bees, fire is scattered carelessly about the as pangolin (aprawa), deer deterioration since the major bushfires of 1983. bush. (Wasane), Antelope (Otwe) etc The environment is now highly vulnerable to were in abundance. Mushrooms annual bushfires with its attendant socio-ecological Hardly a year passes by without a village or part and snails were common during consequences. of a town being destroyed by a wild fire. This year their seasons. Today mushrooms The bushfire situation is underscored by three the burning down of parts of Bebuso, Wegbe, and snails are all completely main factors, namely: first the conversion of wild Kodidi and the several unreported areas with all absent in Bonkrom. Spear lands to agriculture lands and hunting for game, the problems they leave in their wake need critical grasses had taken over vast areas second maintaining grazing lands for cattle and attention. of the land making agriculture third the alteration of the vegetation type due tedious with low yielding crops. to annual bushfires and the creation of the Volta While most are not heard of, it is a fact that lives Lake. Presently most part of the district can be best are lost in some of these infernos. There was this There were big hectares of described as the transitional dry land eco-system pathetic sight of a victim of a fire at Wegbe who cocoa farms as well. As a type. was consumed by bushfire beyond recognition result of annual bushfires whilst tapping his palm wine and had to be buried and uncontrolled charcoal Many of the fires that have become yearly ritual on his farm because vultures had consumed part production a lot of trees have here in Afram Plains are those started deliberately. of the corpse making it impossible to be carried been felled including even These fires are mostly started by hunters, palm home for burial. There was a similar reported case those on stream banks, and wine tapers and farmers. The hunters are the type of a victim who suffered severe body burns while sheabutter trees of economic who hunt with packs of dogs and so use the fire to quenching a fire on his maize crib- a classical importance are being felled for drive out the hunt from their hideouts so that the example of the human tragedies resulting from charcoal production dogs could do the chase. Others are those who the actions of misguided individuals. Many a time, Streams such as Bonkrom on use fire to smoke out rats and other burrowing children and tethered domestic animals are the Maame Krobo road, Anyinasu rodents. There are those who follow the fire they victims. For some of the fires strike when parents on Gyanboafo road are all dried have set to pick up burnt animals. Another major are gone to farm or when they are to tackle fires Dome, The Queen mother and the Fire service agents during the up and surfaced seasonally only group of fire starters are some farmers who set elsewhere. “Against bushfire sensitization campaign” for a short while. fire to the grass so that the workload is reduced One would ask what do we do then? to only hoeing out the tuft of grass roots. In this way a tractor could easily move about and plough with ease. Others too set fire to the dry grass to

16 Newsletter Newsletter 17 The Gender Agenda Women Subordinate Participation in Development Projects By Frempong Kennedy Dome, Female Nursery Operator transplanting the Mme Opokuaa, Kuasi Kune, receiving a prize as ‘best omen have usually faced numerous and By no means would this imply cassia seedlings into the polybags agroforestry farmer” during the 2009 Farmer Day higher barriers when trying to benefit from discrimination towards men. It development activities. Those barriers rise from must be read in a broader historical These various norms, dynamics and structures of the social and cultural expectations and norms light and framed in the effort of (e.g. farming a new crop, carrying out training, social control often reinforce each other, resulting Wthey encounter in the family and the community all over their re-balancing a gender situation participating to meetings, learning new skills) can in the exclusion and marginalisation of women from life, from the moment they are born. Economic and political remained in-balanced for centuries. result in less time for other tasks, which may in social, economic and political processes. Women’s constraints stemming from and reproducing the latter further its turn produce conflicts in the household and/or subordination is reflected both in women’s socio- enhance and widen the mentioned obstacles. Gender relations tend to be the community. Women’s daily schedule may be economic condition, as well as in their position. patriarchal: they mirror and already too busy: time is not flexible and the day Women’s specific interests, reproduce a hierarchy where cannot be stretched beyond 24 hours! Men, like women, are not homogenous as a needs and priorities women are subordinate to men. group. Men oppress other men, as women oppress have often remained in Women’s subordination is reflected Patriarchal socio-economic structures and other women. The preservation of women’s the shadow, unseen and in the social and economic institutions are grounded and strengthened subordination is not an interest of all men. Women unanswered because of the structures which are reflected and by systems of value and cultural norms which can and should make alliances with men to aforementioned reasons. alimented by the social, economic, perpetuate and reinforce women’s subordination cooperate in pursuing practical as well as strategic In addition, it is aimed at cultural and political interactions and inferiority to men. Patriarchy reinforce goals. Women and men can and should jointly identifying and transforming and relationships among individuals women’s subordination and powerlessness by challenge patriarchy and oppression, and commit the social, economic, cultural, and groups. limiting or denying their access to resources; to the positive transformation of their gender and political mechanisms by limiting or denying them control over their roles and relations in their families, communities and structures which prevent Women’s subordination is also own bodies, lives and labour; by restricting their and societies. The ultimate goal is the attainment women from participating to mirrored in the heavy workload that opportunities to participate in decisions which of socio-economic and political structures where development, in individual, they usually have to bear, especially affect their own lives. This may occur in the family, both will enjoy equal opportunities and share the social, economic and political because it is rarely acknowledged. community, and in the larger society. benefits of rewarding live. terms. Consequently, gender Women, and particularly low mainstreaming undertakes income ones, are expected to the transformation of perform all types of work described: the social structures that productive, reproductive and produce and reproduce the community. This has been mentioned barriers. addressed as women’s ‘Triple Role’ The historical framework of gender or ‘triple burden’. Any development Men’s views, interests, intervention addressed to one area Gender approaches in development have evolved over past decades: needs and priorities have will affect the other areas. This In the 50s and 60s, the welfare approach saw women as passive recipients of benefits. usually been considered consideration has to be constantly as everybody’s ones, and kept in mind when planning, In the 70s and 80s, the equity and efficiency approaches started to challenge women’s consequently always taken implementing and monitoring subordinate position and to increase women’s participation in development activities. into account, while women’s development interventions. In recent years, a gender and empowerment approach is attempting to transform existing ones have seldom been Women’s workload can prevent gender relations in fostering enhanced equity in the access to and control of resources and considered. This is why the them from participating, or fully benefits. focus will sometimes fall on participating, in development women and their specific activities. When they do participate, interests and priorities. extra time dedicated to a new task

18 Newsletter Newsletter 19 The main goal we achieved is the immense consensus and interest the project gained among Afram Plains population, stakeholders and traditional and governmental authorities. It seems everybody is willing to help and gave its support to the project. Subsequently, we would like to truly thank all the individuals and institutions who supported us and continue to give us a fundamental boost to carry on this project.

SPECIAL THANKS TO • Kwahu North District Assembly • Sekyere Afram Plains District Assembly • Kwahu North and Sekyere Afram Plains District Chiefs Executives Asanyansu, “LOVE” charcoal bags • Kwahu North and Sekyere Afram Plains Traditional Chiefs • Cooperazione Italiana • Ministry of Food and Agriculture • Forest Services Division • Wildlife Division • Department of Community Development • Fire Service • Forestry Commission • Representative of alternative energies companies • All the COMMUNITIES involved • A.P.D.O. STAFF • RC STAFF

Dome, loading charcoal bags

DONKORKROM OFFICE A.P.D.O. TEL: 03424 22133, FAX: 03424 22131 E-MAIL: [email protected] Afram Plains Development Organisation WEBSITE: www.ricercaecooperazione.org Location: Tease Afram Plains, Eastern Region ACCRA OFFICE Contact: The Executive Director, Box 93, No 16 Church Crescent, Labone Donkorkrom Afram Plains, ER, Ghana P.O.Box. LG 348, Legon-Accra Tel: (233-03424) 22029 / 22091 TEL: 0320 782 090 / 783 969 ITALIAN NGO RICERCA E COOPERAZIONE