Vulnerability and Adaptation of Livelihood to Climate Change and Variability in River Offin Basin in Ghana
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Date
2009-07-13
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Abstract
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
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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.