In the heart of Ghana’s Sahel region, where arid lands and harsh living conditions have long been a challenge for residents, a beacon of hope has emerged through the ‘Creating Lands of Opportunity: Transforming Livelihoods through Landscape Restoration in the Sahel (LOGMe)’ project.
This initiative is funded by the Italian Ministry for Environment and Energy Security through the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The three-year project spans three countries, including Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. In Ghana, the project is carried out in four districts; Talensi, Bawku West, and Builsa South in the Upper East Region, and Sisala East in the Upper West District. The LOGMe project is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in collaboration with partners such as A Rocha Ghana, CSIR-SARI, MoFA, EPA, and the Water Resources Commission.
Empowering women, empowering communities
In the Awaradone community of the Talensi district for instance, over 50 women have found new opportunities and purpose through the LOGMe project. Equipped with capacity-building training in soap and body cream making, these women have become entrepreneurs on their own, producing high-quality products that not only sustain their families but also contribute to the local economy.
The soap produced is made out of coconut oil, moringa, and shea butter, for bathing, washing, and cleaning. The body cream is produced with shea butter with no added additives.
According to the beneficiaries, the newfound income from these ventures has helped to reduce urban migration, as they now see viable livelihood options within the community.
“I used to struggle to make ends meet,” says Celestine Aduko, one of the beneficiaries of the training. “But now, with the skills I’ve gained, I can support my family and even save some money for the future. I’m grateful for the opportunities this project has brought us.”
Bringing light to darkness
For communities like Dalaasa, Tarikom, and Gbango, which existed for decades without electricity, life has been challenging. Without access to electricity, basic tasks like communication and education became difficult, and opportunities for economic growth were limited. However, the LOGMe project has changed that narrative by establishing solar charging centres in these communities.
Now, residents can charge their mobile phones and other devices, opening up a world of possibilities for connectivity and access to information.
“We always take our phones to Binaba to charge and that is about an hour’s journey, simply because the community is not connected to the national grid. Charging a single phone costs us 2 cedis and transportation is 20 cedis. Considering the kind of phone and its usage, some of us have to charge our phones about 3 times or more in a week. So, you can imagine the cost. Therefore, this project is impacting positively in our lives”, Alembile Abel Atiah, native of Gbango and Assembly member for the Gunga electoral area.
Water for life, water for growth
Access to clean water is a fundamental necessity for any community, yet many in the Sahel region have struggled with this basic need. Recognizing this challenge, the LOGMe project has drilled and installed 8 solar-powered mechanized boreholes across communities like Awaradone, Tarikom, Sakalu, and Naadema. These boreholes not only provide clean drinking water but also support irrigation for dry-season vegetable farming, enhancing food security and improving livelihoods.
“Before, we had to travel long distances to fetch water,” explains Adugbila Ankele, a resident of Awaradone. “Now, we have clean water right here in our community, and we can grow vegetables such as okra, tomato, pepper, and onions throughout the year.”
74-year-old Paul Atie Eric from the Naadema community in the Builsa South District said hitherto the implementation of the project in the community, the youth and women had to travel to the southern parts of the country in search of non-existent jobs.
“Some became pregnant as a result, some engaged in social vices. But because of this project, the youth can stay home hear and engage in all-year-round farming for sustainable livelihood”, he stated.
A testament to hope and resilience
The impact of the LOGMe project extends far beyond infrastructure and economic opportunities. The project assisted farmers in Dalaasa, Gbango, Yameriga, and Nanchala communities with capacities on beekeeping practice with equipment provided to them. Some of the beneficiary communities were trained on climate-smart adaptation methods while all 8 communities were assisted with improved cookstoves to reduce the cutting down of trees for fuel wood.
Project implementors
Dorcas Owusuaa Agyei, National Coordinator for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), implementors of the project, when speaking to Citi News said the 8 communities were carefully selected based on statistics that showed the areas are the most vulnerable to climate impact, and the women face a lot of challenges when it comes to poverty issues, and nutritional values.
“There was a lot of migration down south to do menial jobs. So, we have had solar-powered, mechanized boreholes in all 8 communities, and currently, 4 are practicing irrigation vegetables all year round. Their focus was on the dry season, but even during the rainy season, they still do it because vegetables are used by the women, and they are getting significant contributions to support their livelihood in terms of children’s school fees, and in terms of taking care of the household. The women are testifying that it has brought peace because they used to ask their husbands for money, and there was a lot of confusion and conflicts, but now they have their own money, they have saved, and they can contribute, and they are enjoying peace”, Mrs. Agyei.
Northern Sector Manager for A Rocha Ghana, Godwin Evenyo Dzekoto said the project also introduced the production of grass briquettes in some communities to reduce the burden on the natural forest due to the over-reliance on firewood for daily needs.
“We are excited that communities have embraced this and women no longer have to go so long for firewood. The amount of money they use to buy charcoal has been reduced, because, with a little charcoal, they could cook for long hours with the energy-saving cookstoves. The communities that are using the briquettes testify that the briquettes burn slowly and are more energy efficient compared to the regular wood charcoal”, Mr. Dzekoto stated.
As the LOGMe project comes to an end after its three years of implementation, Felicite Chabi Gonne, Regional LOGMe Project Coordinator in charge of the three countries Ghana, Niger, and Burkina Faso expressed optimism that the beneficiary communities “will continue to maintain the infrastructure installed for them by the project”.
“For example, I saw at Tarikom that to charge phones, they pay 1 cedi to manage and maintain the solar panels that were installed to capture solar energy”, she stated.
She entreated authorities in Ghana to sustain the project just like their counterparts in Niger and Burkina Faso have put in place management systems for its sustainability.
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