Climate change is increasingly displacing communities and threatening livelihoods in Ghana, prompting calls for more focused policy interventions.
To address this, Farm Radio International has held a stakeholder dialogue in Accra aimed at ensuring that the experiences of those on the ground shape practical, locally-relevant climate policies, particularly concerning climate-induced migration.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, researchers, and development actors to review findings gathered directly from rural communities through radio engagement.
Dr. Samuel Kojo Antobam, Regional Coordinator for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research at Farm Radio International, explained that the initiative prioritizes community participation to understand the real-time impacts of climate change. “We used our radio programmes and interactive voice response systems to gather views from people in rural areas on climate change and possible solutions that do not require heavy financial investment,” he said.
He further detailed the process: “We asked a few questions through our radio programmes, and people responded using their phones by selecting options that best reflected their experiences. We then analysed the responses to understand the challenges and possible solutions.”
Dr. Antobam emphasized that this approach empowers communities to contribute directly to climate adaptation discussions, specifically regarding drought, flooding, and the difficult decision to migrate.
Organisers revealed that the insights from the dialogue will be compiled into a policy brief and fact sheet, slated for presentation to relevant ministries and district assemblies in January 2026.
These documents are expected to assist government agencies in aligning national climate policies with the realities faced by farming communities. The dialogue was specifically designed to help government institutions develop practical responses to the challenges farmers are experiencing as climate change intensifies, according to the organisers.
They stressed the importance of ongoing engagement and collaboration with state institutions to ensure the recommendations are translated into tangible action. Farm Radio International reaffirmed its commitment to working with policymakers and development partners to support climate adaptation efforts driven by community voices.
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