DAKAR (AlertNet) – Women living in rural communities are among people set to be hardest-hit by the impacts of climate change in Ghana, but their voices are not being heard during discussions to tackle the phenomenon, the Ghanaian Chronicle reported on Wednesday.
Women attending a climate justice forum in Ghana have urged the government to involve women in the design and implementation of climate change policies and programmes in the West African country, the paper said.
Experts say Ghana could face rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and unwieldy weather patterns leading to heavy rainfall and flooding and extended droughts in various parts of the country, due to the effects of climate change.
Rural women attending the forum spoke of the plight they have already faced during floods and droughts that have been hitting the country.
“The drought has led to loss of food crops and animal lives, which are basic for human survival,” said Memuna Sandow, from Wulugu in the West Mamprusi district in northern of Ghana, where a recent drought dried up water sources such as wells, streams and even some boreholes.
“Sometimes, women die in the performance of their productive role on the farm during flooding periods, because they cannot swim,” Sandow added.
A representative of Ghana’s Minister for Women and Children's Affairs said a gender analysis of budget lines and financial instruments for climate change is crucial to ensure gender-sensitive investments.
(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. For more information see our Acceptable Use Policy.
comments powered by Disqus