Water management and reforestation in Ghana

What are the challenges in the region?

The Bongo District is one of the driest areas in Ghana. The district has an important water source: the reservoir of the VEA Dam, into which the Yarigatanga River flows. Farmers depend on the dam for irrigation of their land and it is the drinking water supply source for surrounding villages. With only 70 rainy days a year and poor soil, desertification forms a threat. Farmers feel the need to move closer and closer to the river banks. Deforestation of the river banks leads to erosion, causing the river and the reservoir to silt up. In the long term, this also means that farmers will no longer be able to irrigate.

Together we create more impact!

With help of the Blue Deal project, a cooperation has been set up between the Water Resources Commission in Ghana, Trees for All, TREE AID and other parties involved to come to an integral solution. Together they will plant 220,000 trees and create 150 hectares of agroforestry to reverse land degradation and reinforce the river banks. Farmers will be trained in sustainable land use, combining agriculture or livestock farming practices with the planting and management of trees. For this, the project will collaborate with the Blue Deal project of the Dutch Water Authorities. In this project, World Waternet employees - together with employees of Waterschap Aa en Maas (project lead), de Dommel, Drents Overijsselse Delta, Hunze en Aas and Brabantse Delta - are deployed to support local water boards in water management in Ghana.

With this new project in Ghana, we contribute through reforestation and agroforestry to fighting poverty and creating a resilient, future-proof ecosystem. Would you like to know more? Check out the website of Trees for All (You are leaving this website), read the project flyer (in Dutch) and watch the video below.