Kedzi: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) has organized a community-based intervention at Kedzi in the Anloga District of the Volta Region. The initiative was aimed to protect the mangroves, improve livelihoods, and promote cleaner household energy, among others in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the move was also to mitigate the high rate at which the mangrove ecosystem was threatened and disappearing at an alarming rate due to intense human pressure resulting from global population growth. Dr. Juliet Attah of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission and a member of the project team, during a public engagement with the residents, said that the project was being implemented by CSIR-IIR with support from partners such as UNESCO-TWAS and Elsevier Foundation, following the recognition that collaboration was necessary to address climate change and related environmental challenges in the community.
Dr. Attah further explained that the Kedzi community was chosen because fishing remains a major source of livelihood, and the project seeks to protect this economic activity from further environmental decline. She emphasized that researchers first engaged with the community to understand the problem on the ground rather than relying on assumptions about external threats.
Residents had previously explained that their main concern was not the excessive cutting of mangroves for fuel, but the increasing salinity of the water around the mangroves. While some signs of mangrove cutting were visible, the larger issue appeared to be the changing water conditions, affecting fish stocks and reducing the community's catch. Dr. Attah noted that the community members reported the disappearance of some fish species they formerly depended on, describing the situation as a threat to their livelihood and food security.
Dr. Dela H. Adjei from CSIR-BRRI, another facilitator, mentioned that the project aims to curb environmental decline by offering an alternative to traditional charcoal, which is largely produced from firewood and contributes to environmental degradation. Briquettes made from agricultural and other waste materials were introduced as a cleaner and more sustainable energy option. They reduce the release of soot and harmful gases, which could affect health and lead to respiratory problems and other illnesses. Moreover, briquettes are more fuel-efficient, burning for longer periods and requiring less quantity for cooking compared to ordinary charcoal.
Dr. Gloria Boafo-Mensah of CSIR-IIR highlighted the distribution of improved cookstoves to the residents, designed with ceramic liners to retain heat and improve cooking efficiency. Beneficiaries were educated on the proper use and maintenance of the stoves to prevent damage to the clay liners.
Dr. Trinity Ama Tagbor, the Project Lead, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, called on government, non-governmental organizations, and development partners to support the expansion of the initiative, enabling residents to produce briquettes locally as a sustainable business venture. Beneficiaries, including Madam Juana Dogbey and Dofa Gadagbey, expressed satisfaction with the initiative and urged support for CSIR to expand the program to other coastal communities. They believe the initiative will help secure the community's livelihoods, protect the environment, and contribute to achieving SDG 14, which seeks to protect life below water.