Digital Climate Risk Portal Launched in Bekwai to Equip Assembly and Security Agencies in Fight Against Climate Change
In a bold move to enhance local climate resilience and proactive disaster management, a Digital Climate Risk and Vulnerability Information Portal (CRVIP) has been launched and introduced to officials of the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, stakeholders, and security agencies in the Ashanti Region. The initiative is aimed at equipping local authorities with the right digital tools and knowledge to tackle the growing threats of climate change through informed planning and data-driven interventions.
The training workshop, which took place at the Bekwai Municipal Assembly Hall, was organized by the African Foundation for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (AFCCSD) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The intervention forms part of Ghana’s national climate adaptation plan, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The CRVIP, a modern geospatial platform, provides critical access to climate risk maps, vulnerability assessments, and real-time environmental data, empowering users to make evidence-based decisions in the areas of infrastructure development, agriculture, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Francis Aforve, Executive Director of AFCCSD, described the portal as a game-changer in local governance and resilience-building. “This platform serves as a central hub for climate and risk data that can be accessed by Assemblies, disaster response units, planners, and development partners. It helps us shift from reactive responses to proactive and preventive measures,” he explained.
Participants included planning and statistical officers from the Municipal Assembly, officials from the Agriculture Department, members of the Ghana Police Service, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), civil society actors, and representatives from traditional authorities.
Professor Thompson Annor, a renowned environmental scientist and lecturer from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), led the technical training session. He demonstrated how the CRVIP could be used to monitor flood-prone zones, project temperature and rainfall patterns, and evaluate the social vulnerability of communities. “The climate crisis is local. The best solutions are those led at the local level. Tools like CRVIP enable districts like Bekwai to plan smartly, allocate resources wisely, and safeguard lives and livelihoods,” he noted.
Madam Sheila Rosetta Arthur, the Municipal Coordinating Director of Bekwai, expressed gratitude to the organizers and pledged that the Assembly would prioritize the use of the CRVIP in all development planning and project assessments going forward. “We’re excited about the possibilities this portal offers. We now have the capacity to analyze environmental risks before initiating any project, especially in flood-prone communities and agriculturally sensitive areas,” she said.
Security agencies welcomed the platform’s early warning potential, noting its importance in supporting timely emergency response during disasters such as floods, bushfires, and heatwaves. NADMO officials praised the collaborative approach and called for regional-level coordination to strengthen preparedness strategies.
Participants engaged in hands-on practicals, where they navigated the digital interface of the CRVIP, assessed localized data, and discussed how the platform could be integrated into their work plans. Many expressed hope that the tool would become a standard part of local development policy and budgeting processes.
The workshop concluded with a strong call for sustained training and funding support to expand the CRVIP initiative across other districts and municipalities in Ghana. Stakeholders also urged the public to adopt environmentally conscious behaviors to complement the digital and institutional efforts toward national climate resilience.
The launch of the CRVIP in Bekwai signals a new era in local climate governance—where technology, science, and community participation are converging to protect Ghana’s future in the face of increasing environmental threats.
