By: Rebecca Ekpe
The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) has hosted a delegation of high-level of academia, policymakers and scientists from Hamburg, Germany for a networking workshop.
The delegation was led by Senator Kathrina Fegebank, the Second Mayor of Hamburg and Senator of Science, Research and equality.
The objectives of the workshop were to engage in discussions on various scientific topics, including climate research, infectious diseases, sustainable democracy, and more importantly, to ”strengthen existing collaborations and foster new joint projects with the German team”.
The Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Emmanuel Wendsongre Ramde who welcomed the delegation to the Centre spoke of how capacity building and research are integral to climate change and adaptation measures.
”I am particularly elated to have Senator Fegebank and her team here, and to welcome them to discuss common issues of climate change biodiversity and strengthen our networks towards a better environment through science”.
He shared how WASCAL and its partners had been working to promote collaboration in Disaster Risk Reduction through the Network of Excellence ideology. Among the partners in Ghana are the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT), Ghana National Fire Service, the Media, and Academia .
The German delegation which was led by Senator Katharina Fegebank said they were happy to be in Accra, and in particular, ”to discuss how to build long term relationships”.
”We need to understand how different cultures tackle issues, for example in a political agenda on climate change and its impact on Ghana, Germany and even globally”, Senator Fegebank posits.
She welcomed the need to commit to training on advocacy on the issues.
” We have established an ecosystem on a national level, however an international solution on how to approach and tackle a global common problem like climate change is the way to go”, according to the Senator.
While in Accra, the delegation from Hamburg met with the Health Minister, Dr. Okoe Boye at his Office to discuss opportunities for partnerships in Health Research.
The team also paid a visit to the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), and held other engagements with diasporas.
Ghana and Humburg through the visiting team of Scientists expressed delight at the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest,which is how research can inform industry to propel the greater good of society.
Photos Credit: Dr. Dorethea Widenburg, Hamburg
