A delegation from the ECOWAS Commission, led by Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, visited Ghana to monitor and evaluate the humanitarian assistance provided after severe floods in 2022 and 2023. The floods had a significant impact on communities in the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, including Nsawam Adagyiri, Ga West, Ga South, and Weija Gbawe.
ECOWAS responded to these disasters by providing emergency relief in partnership with Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and Abantu for Development. The support included food, non-food items, and training in livelihood skills such as baking, hairdressing, soap-making, and farming. Beneficiaries received start-up kits at the end of their training to help them rebuild their lives.
Major General (Rtd) Joseph B. Kuyon, Director-General of NADMO, said: “ECOWAS has once again demonstrated its commitment to the ideals of its mandate and standing with Ghanaians in times of crisis. These interventions have produced tangible and life-changing results with strong emphasis on livelihood recovery and resilience-building.”
The humanitarian assistance reached more than 5,100 households with emergency supplies such as food, clothing, mattresses, and other essentials. Vulnerable groups—including women-headed households, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—were prioritized for aid.
Beyond immediate relief efforts, over 190 individuals participated in financial literacy and entrepreneurship training. Ninety farmers were introduced to climate-smart farming techniques and given modern tools. Artisans and small business owners also received start-up kits to support their activities. Additional community benefits included ten new boreholes for water access, Water and Sanitation Committees formation, and industrial handwashing stations installed in schools.
To improve disaster response capacity long-term, NADMO staff underwent training in disaster risk reduction practices using a new manual designed for sustainable management.
Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutiw from Abantu for Development highlighted: “This programme placed dignity and resilience at the heart of recovery, ensuring that no one was left behind.”
Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe emphasized ECOWAS’s focus on direct community support: “Our interventions go beyond emergency relief—we emphasize livelihoods, resilience, and restoring dignity.” She noted that 85% of funding is directed toward communities through initiatives related to livelihoods development as well as food aid and water supply projects.
She also recognized the collaborative approach between governments, civil society organizations like Abantu for Development, local communities—and stressed that despite reduced donor funding—ECOWAS continues its role as a reliable partner supporting resilience across West Africa.
One beneficiary shared her experience during the visit: Aunty Cici—a petty trader caring for her grandson—was trained in soap making through ECOWAS support. With her new skills and start-up capital she now earns steady profits to support her family.
The field mission underscores ECOWAS’s broader vision of promoting solidarity and sustainable recovery throughout West Africa while supporting national strategies against climate-related disasters.