PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana (VOLU) and the Volta River Authority (VRA) under the aegis of the Government of Ghana have agreed to jointly take action that seeks to address the prevailing warning signs ostensibly threatening the survival of the Volta Lake, which is the main energy source of the country. Human activities in combination with the combustion of fossil fuels have significantly increased the atmospheric concentration of Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases over pre-industrial levels. It is a universal knowledge that the accumulation of greenhouse gases and indiscreet forest degradation are the most likely primary causes of recent global warming.  Climate change is known to have negative influence on the socio-economic and ecological impact on the efficient and effective running of the Akosombo Dam for hydro-power generation.

Forests store large amounts of carbon through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and decompositions. International efforts aimed at addressing the climate change recognizes land, land use change and forestry as relatively low cost options to enhance and improve the terrestrials’ carbon storage, slow the rate of CO2 accumulation, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Current and future initiatives to create new forests are key features of institutional efforts to mitigate climate change by increasing forest carbon storage.

The Volta Lake, claimed to be one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, which has its source from the Republic of Burkina Faso, has the tendency of periodic dry-ups, which normally leads to shortage in the reservoir of the dam. For the past decade, half the energy supply level of the country has been on the decline when the country began experiencing erratic rainfall pattern as a result of the negative impact of climate changes on the Akosombo Dam. Due to this, the dam has not been operating at its full capacity, which necessitated the Volta River Authority (VRA) to undertake load shedding-appropriating power sequentially to consumers, more importantly to neighboring countries that draw electric energy supply from Ghana.

To aggressively contribute its quota towards mitigating of the situation, VOLU has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Volta River Authority to strategically collaborate under a 5-year Development Plan in the medium-term, to plant over10 million trees of various species along the gorge of the river and its operational catchment areas estimated to cover about 25 hectares of land. During the project implementation period, volunteers both local and foreign will vigorously be engaged in the tree planting exercise in phases. The volunteers will be mobilized and organized in batches as they are motivated and encouraged to enthusiastically participate in the project towards the achievement of its overall objective.

LOCATION: The project will mainly be implemented in three operational communities of the Volta River Authority; namely, Abotoase, Nkonya, Kwamekrom and other identified smaller communities along the banks of the Volta River. These communities are sited closely to some key and strategic tributaries of the lake, which significantly contribute to the reservoir of the Volta Lake. Predominant occupation of the community folks is fishing and growing of food for domestic consumption and for sale.  Plans are far advanced as agreed by the traditional and opinion leaders of the various towns and villages whose livelihoods largely depend on the forest and the river to participate in a pre-arranged educational programme intended to train and build the capacity of the people towards alternative livelihood initiatives. This, if done, will control the seemingly negative human activities which are inimical to the sustainability of the ecology of the river.

The project is located within the administrative district of Biakoye/Nkonya in the Volta Region of Ghana.  The district capital Nkonya is about 236 kilometers away from the national capital, Accra. The trunk roads leading to the project communities are fairly good; about 3 to 4 hours drive from Accra by bus.

ACCOMMODATION: The volunteers will be housed in classrooms of the local primary and high schools of the various communities where the main tree planting exercise will be carried out. Mattresses will be made available to the volunteers for use throughout their stay in those communities. It is not obligatory for volunteers to bring with them their own sleeping bags and mats. Campers will share everything in common including cooking and preparation of meals for the camp on daily basis. The ingredients necessary for the preparation of meals for the camp will be provided. Volunteers, especially the foreign ones, will be encouraged to try their hands on cooking local dishes.

LANGUAGE: English shall be the predominant and official spoken language throughout the life of the camp. Other languages would not be frowned upon, as they may be spoken by volunteers in addition to English to the understanding of other campers. High proficiency in English is not a requirement.

PARTICIPATION FEE: All prospective volunteers on this and other projects will be required to pay a participation fee of 250 Euros per project and 150 Euros for any additional project.

 LOGISTICS: Logistic needs of the camp for successful project implementation will be adequately supplied by our project host, the Volta River Authority. Basic items such as hand gloves, wellington boots, rain coats, flashlights, machetes, wheel barrows, among many others will be provided. It is NOT a demand for volunteers to come with the above items. The most important items are working clothes, which may be discarded after the project.

Public telephone connectivity, post office, internet cafes, banks as well as forex bureaux are non-existent facilities in the various project locations of the Akosombo projects. However, volunteers can conveniently use their cellular phones as they connect to any of the networks that provide the services in the country, provided the service provider’s net work has coverage in the project locations.

EXRTA INFO: Volunteers will be privileged to have full feel of the serenity of the renowned Volta River as they cruise on the river.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE:

PLEASE NOTE:

• The project locations as indicated above are sited within the same administrative district of the local government authority.