Vulnerability and Adaptation of Livelihood to Climate Change and Variability in River Offin Basin in Ghana

Since 1960, temperature rises of over 1oC and reductions in rainfall of approximately 20% have been recorded in Ghana with significant declines in discharge of the country’s major rivers. River Offin basin sustains livelihoods of many rural communities who are predominantly rain-fed crop farmers, majority of whom depend totally on River Offin and its tributaries for their water needs. River Offin also provides water to Kumasi and its environs through the Barekese and Owabi dams. The ability of the Offin basin to continue to sustain livelihoods of the people that depend on it is highly threatened by changes in climate, mainly temperature and precipitation. It is for the need to prepare for the future in terms of adaptation for the very vulnerable whose livelihoods depend almost completely on ecosystem goods and services that this study is undertaken. The goal is to contribute to the processes of adaptation to climate change through the assessment of vulnerability derived from the impacts of climate change on river basin and dependent communities. The methodology combined empirical historical data with active community participation and indigenous knowledge. The study was to tap indigenous knowledge whilst ensuring active community involvement in appreciation of problems and finding solutions. Historical climate data from 1961 to 2006 was collected from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and analysed for trends using linear regression. Discharge data of River Offin was also collected from the Ghana Hydrological Services and analysed for trends and regressed against the climate parameters to establish the relationship between river discharge and climate parameters. Data on livelihoods of communities living in the River Offin basin were collected using questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. The current and future vulnerability of the communities were assessed based on the current livelihoods and projected climate changes for the semi-deciduous forest region of Ghana. The general assumption is that livelihood options in the Offin basin will not change drastically in the foreseeable future and there will still be heavy dependence on agriculture, River iv Offin and other climate limiting natural resources-dependent livelihoods. Possible adaptation strategies for communities in the Offin basin were explored with active participation of the vulnerable communities, expert contributions and desk study. Precipitation in the Offin basin has reduced by approximately 17% whilst maximum and minimum temperature has also increased by 1.3oC and 1.0oC, respectively. Rainfall pattern has also changed significantly between 2000 and 2006 with the beginning and end of the rainy seasons difficult to predict and the minor season recording more rainfall than the usual major season. Relative humidity in the basin has decreased by 2%, signifying reduction in moisture in the Offin basin whilst Bright Sunshine Duration has been varying. River discharge has also decreased by 6.941m3/s in 1957 to 3.797m3/s in 2006. It was found that discharge of River Offin is impacted heavily by changes in climate, especially precipitation, and projected changes in climate will add to the worsening of vulnerability of communities in the Offin basin. Increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation has also had negative impacts on agriculture leading to crop failures, bad harvest and loss of income. Reduced river discharge has affected water availability to the communities. This can be seen in the drying of rivers, streams and wells during the dry season, an indication of reduction in underground water. Poor water quality and high temperatures have resulted in diseases that is affecting the productivity of the people and affecting income levels. Communities in the Offin basin have coped well with the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. However, projected changes in climate will need well planned community-based adaptation strategies which involve all stakeholders and fits into a national adaptation plan of action, if they are to affectively adapt to the potential changes. The last section of the thesis recommends some adaptation strategies for communities in the Offin basin.

Source: KNUST