Participatory Development Associates has held its first climate change workshop at the University of Ghana, Legon for tertiary students as part of its Change4Climate program in partnership with Climate Interactive. The event was attended by over 50 youth from selected tertiary institutions in Accra namely the Accra Technical University, Ghana Institute of Journalism and the University of Ghana, Legon. The students had the opportunity to get a first hand experience of how climate change is affecting life and its threat to human existence.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of PDA Ghana, Glowen Kyei Mensah stated that PDA was interested in engaging young people through outreach programs and advocacy initiatives such as this in ensuring they also contribute their part to development.
Dr Kwadwo Owusu, Head of the Climate Change Center in the Department of Geography at the University of Ghana shared the science and effects of Climate Change in his presentation titled “Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability in Ghana”.
Mr Tony Dogbe, Principal Consultant and Board Chair of PDA facilitated the breakout session where participants were led to identify and highlight issues about participatory future adaption strategies and action plans.
Participants were grouped into coastal, forest and savannah zones to further brainstorm about possible future adaption strategies for their various zones as well as indicating their personal adaption strategies.
Sampson Adotey Jnr, program lead- Change4Climate and an Advocacy and Communications Associate at PDA Ghana stated that, we expect that young people bring out local solutions on how to adapt to change in the climate. He also stated that the students would come together on the 13th October, 2016 as part of the celebration of the world climate week to engage in a world climate simulation event.