BURNING REALITIES: THE HUMAN FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

  

In Ghana, climate change has become a pressing issue affecting biodiversity and agriculture especially for residents in the Northern Region.

From February to May 2024, residents of Tamale experienced extreme heat, reaching 42 degrees Celsius, impacting daily life.

        

A beautiful yet severe sunshine on crops just at the crack of dawn at Chanzegu a small village of Tamale


The rising heat is not just a weather forecast, it is a daily battle for survival, where farmers watch their crops wither and traders struggle to keep fresh goods.

The extreme heat fluctuations in Ghana are a part of a global climate crisis. 

According to research in communities such as Chanzegu, Kunbugu, and Yipelina-yili, the changing heat conditions are having a significant and intense impact on the daily lives and routines of residents.


Communities in Tamale suffer the effects of the rising heat temperatures

For farmers in these areas, the heat is not just uncomfortable, it’s devastating. Abdul Rahman, a local farmer in Chanzegu, is struggling to save his crops as temperatures soar above 40°C.

The farmers also struggle to salvage what is left of their crops


“When the drought sets in, the plants suffer more. The crop leaves will become reddish, and their leaves are curled up. In fact, the heat affects both humans and the crops” says Abdul.

Traders in the local markets are also feeling the pinch as the scorching temperatures shorten the shelf life of their goods.

"My salt turns whitish when the sun scorches and because of that people do not want to buy", Warihana a trader at Kumbumgu market said.

The weather also affects their small-scale business


Despite these challenges, Busagri Abdul Rahman, the Chief Linguist of Chanzegu, who also serves as the chairman of the Kunmbugu-Chanzegu Unit Committee, implemented some measures to help his community cope with the extreme weather.

“We planned and organized the community. We told them that they needed to take precautions with the adverse heat because the heat can make people fall sick” he said.

Busagri Abdul Rahman the Chief Linguist of Chanzegu



Naturally, the changing seasons and rising temperatures are closely tied to the sun’s movement from the southern to the northern hemisphere and back. During the first quarter of the year, as the sun moves over the equator and travels north, it leaves significant heat in its wake.  

However, some artificial factors have also played a role in the rising temperatures from February to April.  The Manager of the Ghana Meteorological Office, Rapheal Boakye also advised against deforestation as a way of protecting the environment. 


As northern Ghana grapples with increasingly severe temperatures, the message is clear: we must adapt to a changing climate and take proactive steps toward sustainability. The path forward requires concerted efforts from all sectors of society to ensure a greener, more resilient future for all.


A level 400 production by Portia Boahemaah Sarpong

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