AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HOUSING SECTOR IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study examined adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the housing sector from an institutional perspective in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed descriptive research design within the qualitative approach. The data was acquired through in-depth interviews and document study. Officials from the regional Department of Rural Housing (DRU) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were interviewed. The study revealed that there was a high priority on technical training on housing construction, promoting the use of impact-resistant building materials, passive solar design as well as surface and underground tanks as adaptation measures while promoting the use of energy efficient household appliances was the only climate change mitigation measure in the housing sector. The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on the other hand did not have specific institutional structures within the assemblies to deal with climate change issues in the housing sector. The study identified an insufficient finances, ineffective fiscal decentralization as well as logistics and equipment as the main challenges faced by the DRU in climate change response in the region. The study recommends that the department should be adequately resourced financially as well as working logistics and equipment to undertake their core functions.

Keywords

• adaptation
• mitigation
• climate change
• housing