By Daniel Akwasi Nuako, GNA
Goaso, June 27, GNA – The Solidaridad West Africa, and Tropenbos Ghana have disbursed revolving funds to selected Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), under the World Bank-funded Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) Programme.
The EnABLE Programme targeted vulnerable groups in rural cocoa communities, including women, youth, migrants, and persons with disabilities who faced barriers to accessing carbon and non-carbon benefits from climate initiatives, despite their role in sustainable cocoa production and forest management.
Speaking at separate ceremonies to present a $10,000.00 cheque to six Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) in Ahafo Ano South East in the Ashanti Region, and Asutifi-Asunafo in the Ahafo Region, Mr Alfred Fosu, the Programme Manager at Solidaridad West Africa, said the initiative sought to ensure equitable access to benefits from emission reduction payments under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP).
He said it directly engaged about 20,000 farmers across 100 communities in Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, Eastern, and Western North regions.
He stated that the programme complemented the 2016 GCFRP by targeting underrepresented groups through three components, namely; building knowledge on REDD+ and benefit-sharing, promoting locally led climate-resilient livelihoods, and strengthening programme management and knowledge sharing.
Mr Fosu disclosed that the revolving fund was part of efforts to strengthen community financial systems, improve credit access, and boost economic resilience.
He noted that in all, 18 beneficiary VSLAs were selected across six HIAs and received a total of $10,000 after a rigorous profiling process, and also received training in financial management, record-keeping, leadership, and loan administration.
He emphasised that the funds were community-owned resources, not grants, and urged beneficiaries to uphold transparency, accountability, and collective responsibility.
Mr Fosu said: “The EnABLE Programme recognises that sustainable development and environmental conservation are linked to improved livelihoods, and by strengthening local financial systems, we contribute to economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.”
He said the programme would continue to provide technical support and monitoring to beneficiary VSLAs, to ensure effective use of the funds.
Mr Emmanuel Anim Brow, the Goaso Forest District Manager, said providing community members with funds to enhance their businesses removed pressure on the forest and reduced activities such as illegal farming, illegal chainsaw operations, and illegal mining.
He described the support as an alternative livelihood that would shift community focus from forest destruction to sustainable income-generating activities.
Mr Brow said it was an added advantage that the EnABLE Programme and its partners were working with the Forest Commission to protect the forest estate and appealed to strengthen the partnership to safeguard the forest for future generations.
Some beneficiaries, who could not hide their excitement over the financial support, commended the implementers of the EnABLE Programme for recognising vulnerable groups in cocoa-growing communities with the assistance.
They pledged to use the funds for activities that would continue to protect the forest estate in their respective communities to ensure the programme’s sustainability.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Daniel Akwasi Nuako