A Team of Researchers from the University of Ghana, led by Prof. Daniel Nukpezah (Activity Lead, Built & Natural Environment, University of Ghana Collaborative on Climate Resilience and Sustainability, UG-CCReS), met their counterparts from the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences here in Navrongo to explore possible avenues for joint research on Climate Change and Sustainability.
The Meeting formed part of a reconnaissance visit in connection with the University of Ghana’s Mastercard funded collaborative on Climate Resilience and Sustainability, led by Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, UG, and former Chairman of the Governing Council of CKT-UTAS.
The UG Team was welcomed by Prof. Mohammed Asaah, Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy Services (DRICS), on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor. He extended warm greetings from the Vice-Chancellor and assured the UG Team of the readiness of the CKT-UTAS Team to contribute holistic ideas as the two institutions and others seek to foster synergies for ground-breaking research in the areas of Climate Change and Sustainability.
Prof. Nukpezah stated that one of the key objectives of the project is to “promote high-quality research outputs through the establishment of Climate Resilience Research Labs and Climate Learning Observatories”. Providing further insight, he noted that “the establishment of the Climate learning observatories is to enhance trans-disciplinary and collaborative research units across the University of Ghana, designated regions, partner universities and communities.
The Climate Change learning observatories will be dedicated to research activities within the Northern, Central, and Southern belts of the country, representing three distinct ecological areas: semi-arid, forested, and coastal regions, respectively.”
To achieve the stated objectives, the centers will be equipped with essential tools for climate control, weather monitoring, greenhouse experiments, laboratory analysis, soil quality assessment, and teleconferencing. Additionally, research in the observatories will integrate traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous practices with contemporary scientific methods to effectively address localized climate challenges.
The areas of focus for the collaborative research would include impact of climate change on health care delivery, flooding, impact of rainfall on diseases, challenges in nutritional state of crops, the correlation between thatched-roofed and zinc-roofed houses and ventilation, dwindling sheanut farming owing to climate change and the menace of wild/ bush fires in the north.
Accompanying Prof. Nukpezah were Prof. Gerald Yiran, (Activity Lead, IKS), Dr. Peter Kojo Quashie, (Activity Lead, Health), Dr. Joseph Clotttey, (Project Manager) and Dr. Nii Longdon Sowah, (AI Researcher).
The CKT-UTAS Team comprised Prof. Mohammed Asaah, (Director, DRICS), Prof. Douti Nang, (Dean, School of Environment and Life Sciences), and Prof. James Abugri (Dean, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences).
Others include Mr. Steve Ampofo (HoD, Department of Environmental Science), Dr. Joan Atulley, (Lecturer, Department of Environmental Science), Mr. Abdul-Majeed Yusif, (Ag. Head, University Relations Office), Mr. Gideon Felli, (Administrator, DRICS/ School Officer, School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences), and Mrs. Nancy Webadua Tangyei (Junior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor).
