EU-GAP Joint Steering Committee commends Progress of AAG's Community Resilience Project in Namvilli and Sabuli in the Upper West Region.

ActionAid Ghana and the GIZ, led a high-level delegation of representatives from the European Union (EU), as well as the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The visit formed part of an inspection tour of ongoing activities under the Strengthening Community Resilience through Community Action Plans (CAPs) project funded bunder the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) Project.

In Namvilli, the residents turned up in large numbers to welcome the visitors. Chiefs, women leaders, and young people lined up under canopies, draped in bright fabrics, to showcase their excitement and gratitude. Also present were key regional and district officials, including the Upper West Regional Director of Agriculture, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nadowli Kaleo, and District Development Planning Officers—all reaffirming their commitment to sustaining the project for lasting.

In his remarks, the Chief of Nanvilli, Naa Yaw Goraah, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the various interventions—particularly the mechanized borehole, the forest restoration field, and the Conservation Agriculture site. “These are life-changing projects,” he said, thanking the EU, GIZ, and ActionAid Ghana for what he described as “timely and transformative support.”

The District Chief Executive, Hon. Mary Haruna, also commended the initiative, noting that the projects had eased a huge burden on the assembly. “These are essential services we would otherwise struggle to provide on our own,” she admitted. She pledged that the assembly would do everything possible to safeguard and maintain the new facilities.

Responding on behalf of the EU delegation, Madam Silvia Severi, Head of Cooperation European Union Delegation, expressed delight at the progress of the REACH-CAPs project and the visible impact on community livelihoods. She encouraged residents to freely share both positive and critical feedback, stressing that such input would help shape better project designs in the future. “Take good care of these facilities,” she urged. “They are for you, your children, and generations to come.”

Regional MoFA Director and Chairman of EUGAP committee, Mr. Abu Huudu applauded the active involvement of community members—especially women—in decision-making. He emphasized that the Conservation Agriculture (CA) field should remain a space for continuous learning and the adoption of improved agronomic practices and admonished beneficiaries to take good care of the projects provided for their continuous usage and for future posterity. 

Adding his voice, Hon. Basigi Joseph, the Assembly Member for Namvilli, expressed gratitude for the interventions. Several beneficiaries shared heartfelt stories of how the project has transformed daily life. Madam Sakinah Andana, treasurer of the water user committee, said, “We used to spend hours fetching water from the hand pump borehole. Now, with the mechanized borehole nearby, we save time, cook early for our children, and get more work done on our farms. It’s a huge relief.”

Another community member, Madam Helen Kogo, spoke about how the new water system has changed things for elderly residents and people with disabilities. “Before, they had to walk long distances for water,” she said. “Now they can easily fetch clean water right here in the community. It has truly brought dignity and comfort to many.”

Chairman of the Community-Based Forest Management Committee, Mr. Zienaah Barnabas, highlighted the importance of the forest restoration initiative. “The grafted mango and cashew trees planted on the school farm are a real treasure,” he said. “They’ll provide fruits for our children and future income for the community. We’ll work hard to protect this field for generations to come”.

In the Sabuli community, the meeting  took place on the 5th of November at the dam site where the representative of the chief, Mr. Digre Doonyour Richard, in his welcome address, expressed gratitude to the sponsors and implementers of CAPs for the dam, forest restoration field, and conservation agriculture initiatives. Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Chief Wuumbei Zakaria, conveyed appreciation to the EU, GIZ, and ActionAid for this timely intervention, which will support dry-season vegetable production and improve livelihoods in the communities.

Explaining the rationale behind the allocation of the dam to Sabuli, Madam Abiba Nibaradun, the ActionAid Regional Manager, stated that the dam was the number one    top priority need of the community. During the CAPs validation exercise at the project’s inception, this need was confirmed by community members. She urged the community to make good use of the dam and advised that adjoining communities should also be allowed to benefit from the water resource, as it is strategically located near other  sister communities — Konchuri, Guo, Sobaryeri, Dariyiri, and Piri.

In her remarks, the Head of the EU Delegation, Madam Silvia Severi, expressed the EU’s excitement about the impact the REACH project, and by extension CAPs, is making. She encouraged beneficiaries to share their feedback, stating, “We, the EU, are glad to see the work done here, and I want to thank ActionAid and GIZ for the great work. We want to hear from you; your feedback is important to us. What we bring is meant to improve your lives and those of your children. Let us hear from you how this dam intervention is impacting your livelihoods.”

One of the testimonials came from the community’s youth leader, Justin Sawali, who described the dam as a great relief to the people of Sabuli. He said, “We have many young people here in Sabuli who, during the dry season, migrate to the southern sector. Now that this dam is here, they can channel their energies into dry-season farming rather than searching for non-existent jobs in the south. Our women, who are hardworking and contribute significantly to household sustenance, will use the dam to cultivate vegetables, generate income, and provide nutritious food for their families. The men will also no longer struggle with the women at the boreholes for water for livestock and construction; our animals will drink from the dam while the boreholes serve our women — a big relief for all of us.”

The visit concluded with words of encouragement and renewed commitments from both community leaders and implementing partners to continue building resilient and self-sustaining rural livelihoods across the Upper West Region.

The Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project drives the transformation towards climate resilient agricultural production and improved livelihoods in North-West Ghana. The project is a pillar of the European Union Ghana Agriculture Programme (EU GAP) and builds capacities for the widespread adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) as well as climate resilience through planning systems from the community to the district level. REACH is implemented by GIZ under the Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

About REACH

The Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project drives the transformation towards climate resilient agricultural production and improved livelihoods in North-West Ghana. The project is a pillar of the European Union Ghana Agriculture Programme (EU GAP) and builds capacities for the widespread adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) as well as climate resilience through planning systems from the community to the district level. REACH is implemented by GIZ under the Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

Written by: 

Sebastian Alesane Project Officer, CAPs Project.