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Ghana observes World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification
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Ghana joined the rest of the world on Tuesday to observe the World Day to Combat Drought and Desertification (WDCDD).
The annual event, which is in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution, is to promote public awareness about the causes and effects of land degradation, desertification and drought as well as highlight efforts to combat these challenges.
On the theme “Food, Feed, Fibre,” this year’s event seeks to educate individuals on the links between consumption and land.
A statement signed and issued by Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng in Accra, said Ghana had 35 per cent of its land under threat of desertification due to human activities such as deforestation, unsustainable land use practices, wild fires, the use of agrochemicals and overgrazing.
However, it said, the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP), the Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP) and the Adaptation Fund Project were supporting efforts to restore degraded landscapes.
It noted that these projects have provided dugouts as watering points for livestock and supported 39,000 farmers with farm inputs to practise various forms of sustainable land management technologies within 246 communities, covering 152, 578 hectares of land, to protect the ecology of the country’s northern sectors.
In addition, the statement said 1,060 hectares of land have been reforested within two forest reserves namely the Kulpawn and the Ambalara Forest Reserves.
“The Adaptation Fund Project has provided water and increased access to water supply by drilling 145 boreholes and constructing 10 dug-outs to serve more than 1,000,000 people mainly women and children in 50 communities in 10 districts in the northern sector of Ghana. The Project has also undertaken several livelihood interventions in the area of beekeeping, shea butter processing, groundnut oil extraction, dry season vegetable production and fish farming,” it stated.
The statement called on Ghanaians to protect the land by making changes in their lives to support community resilience, maintain the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services and contribute to reducing the COVID-19 crisis’ impact on global poverty and food insecurity.
Source: Ghanaian Times
News
President Mahama nominates Zanetor Rawlings, Ayariga as Ministers of State in latest Government shake-up
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a new round of ministerial nominations and reassignments aimed at strengthening governance and improving delivery on key government priorities.
In a statement released on, the President nominated Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, MP for Klottey-Korle, as Minister of State at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, has also been nominated as
Minister of State at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Both nominations are subject to parliamentary approval.
As part of the reshuffle, the President has also reassigned two current ministers to new ministries.
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has been moved to the Ministry of Defence, while Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been reassigned to head the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
According to the statement from the Presidency, the changes form part of efforts to “enhance the effectiveness of government and ensure the delivery of the administration’s development agenda.”
The latest appointments signal President Mahama’s focus on placing experienced legislators in strategic sectors ahead of the mid-term of his administration.
The nominations have been forwarded to the Speaker of Parliament for consideration by the Appointments Committee.
Parliament is expected to vet the nominees in the coming days.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Upper West Regional Police Command has secured custodial sentences against two men convicted in separate stealing-related cases in the region.
The convictions were handed down by the Wa Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Samuel Boafo Amewuho.
The first convict, Nasiru Muftawu, 20, was arrested on Saturday, July 11, 2026, following intelligence-led investigations into a series of motorbike thefts in various parts of the region.
He was charged and tried for multiple counts of stealing.
After a full trial, the court on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, found him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment in hard labour.
Police say Muftawu had been linked to several motorbike theft cases that had caused concern among residents and riders in Wa and surrounding communities.
In a separate case, Eric Salia, 36, was arrested on Sunday, July 26, 2026, for unlawfully breaking into the residential accommodation of a public officer and stealing valuable personal belongings.
He was also arraigned before the same court, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour.
The Upper West Regional Police Command says the sentences demonstrate its commitment to dealing firmly with crime in the region.
“The Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to creating a safe, secure, and conducive environment for all law-abiding residents of the Upper West Region,” a statement from the Command said.
It assured the public that it will continue to “pursue criminals relentlessly and bring offenders to justice.”
The Command is also appealing to residents to support policing efforts by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities.
“Public cooperation remains vital in preventing crime and enhancing the safety and security of communities across the region,” the statement added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
