UEW Scholars Secure Grant for Innovative Coastal Resilience Project

In a notable development, Dr. Adams Osman, Project Lead, and Mrs. Christiana Kilson, respectively from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), and the UEW- Co-operative Credit Union (CCU), have clinched a grant award of $148,400 from the United Kingdom’s Department for Environmental, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)/Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA). This significant grant is in support of their collaborative venture with Hen Mpoano.

The focus of this project is on the Volta Estuary at Anyanui in the Volta region of Ghana, where logging has been a primary source of income for many farmers. This practice, while economically beneficial, has left the community vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, and storm surges.

Under the title "Carbon Credits for Mangrove Farmers: A Pilot Study at Anyanui, Volta Estuary of Ghana (CCMAF)," Dr. Osman, Mrs. Kilson, and their team aim to implement a voluntary community mangrove logging carbon credit (VCMCC) initiative. The objective is to encourage farmers to transition from logging to restoration, recognising the vital role that mangroves play as natural carbon sinks.

CCMAF seeks to reshape the local secular economy by introducing ecologically sustainable income opportunities to farmers. This includes the development of carbon credits and the provision of loan packages to facilitate alternative livelihood activities such as beekeeping, dam and oyster farming.

The collaboration involves not only the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) and Hen Mpoano but also the UEW-CCU. Together with the Government of Ghana and local as well as international financial institutions, they plan to accumulate relevant data, skills, and training necessary to develop a viable VCMCC.

Once a market for Voluntary Community Mangrove Carbon Credits is established, CCMAF (Carbon Credits for Mangrove Farmers) intends to scale up its operation to other degrading wetlands in Ghana and West Africa. Muni-Pomadze, Amanzule, and Songar are among the areas earmarked for future expansion, promising a positive impact on coastal resilience and sustainable livelihoods across the region.

This innovative initiative not only addresses the environmental challenges faced by these communities but also sets a precedent for collaborative, community-driven efforts in the fight against climate change and its impacts.