Resource 6: Evidence of global warming in Ghana

 Background information / subject knowledge for teacher

The following symptoms provide evidence that global warming is occurring in Ghana:

• decreased rainfall, increased temperature and evaporation in dry areas;
• frequent spells of drought leading to water shortages;
• changes in planting dates of annual crops;
• increased fungal outbreaks and insect infestations due to changes in temperature and humidity;
• decrease in forest area and area under cultivation;
• decline in crop yield.

The potential effects of global warming in Ghana are:

• increased risk of food shortage and famine;
• reduction in ecosystem integrity and resilience, and decline in biodiversity;
• increased potential of malaria transmission, resulting in burdens on the country’s health care system.