EU-REACH Project Boosts Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana After Eight Years

Editor : Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – 

Smallholder farmers and rural communities across Northern Ghana are now better positioned to withstand the effects of climate change, following the successful implementation of the EU-Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project.

The initiative, executed under the EU-Ghana Agriculture Programme (EUGAP), has over the past eight years significantly strengthened the adaptive capacity of farmers in more than 200 communities.

At a closing ceremony held in Wa, stakeholders highlighted the project’s lasting impact and the strong partnerships built throughout its implementation.
Joint field visits conducted by representatives from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the European Union in Ghana showcased key interventions that have improved agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

These include: A 150-metre irrigation canal constructed in Duori in the Jirapa Municipality, boosting food production and supporting vegetable farmers.
A cold storage facility in Duang in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, helping reduce post-harvest losses.

Rehabilitation of two dams in Buka in Wa West District and Duang, enabling year-round farming activities.
Construction of a student hostel at the Babile Agricultural Station, enhancing training in conservation agriculture.

In total, more than 200 infrastructure projects were completed through participatory planning processes and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.

The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, together with representatives from MoFA, the European Union, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), presented citations to national, regional, and local stakeholders, including NGOs and government institutions, in recognition of their contributions to the project’s success.

Although the project has officially concluded, stakeholders emphasised that its impact will endure through strengthened community ownership and alignment with national development priorities.

The EU-REACH project was implemented by GIZ under the Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE) programme, with funding support from the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).