BONGO: Environmental chiefs in the Bongo District of Ghana's Upper East Region have been empowered with knowledge and skills to protect water bodies and combat environmental degradation in their communities. This initiative is part of a two-day capacity-building exercise organized by the White Volta Basin Secretariat of the Water Resources Commission, with financial support from the Dutch Water Authorities under the Blue Deal project. According to Ghana News Agency, the Blue Deal project is an integrated approach that seeks to provide access to clean and safe water for over 20 million people globally by enhancing the capabilities of governmental institutions and key stakeholders to protect the environment and improve service delivery. In Ghana, the project focuses on the Lower Volta Basin and the White Volta Basin, aiming to safeguard the livelihoods of local residents while ensuring access to safe water. The project currently implements various Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) interventions in the Kpasenkpe Sub-Basin. The installation of environmental chiefs by the Bongo Traditional Council, supported by the Commission, is intended to assist in the implementation of IWRM strategies in the district. These environmental chiefs, selected from the community, are tasked with collaborating with stakeholders, including opinion leaders, farmers, state institutions, and civil society organizations, to promote sustainable agricultural practices and protect the environment. During the training session in Bongo, Mr. Aaron Bundi, Blue Deal Project Manager of the White Volta Basin, emphasized the project's goal of ensuring access to safe water for both drinking and agriculture. He highlighted the significance of community involvement in fostering good environmental practices and noted the potential in leveraging existing traditional systems for environmental protection. Mr. Jesse Kazapoe, Head of the White Volta River Basin of the WRC, pointed out that improper farming practices, deforestation, and bush burnin g contribute to environmental degradation, threatening water bodies and exacerbating climate change. He called for collective responsibility among all stakeholders and encouraged the environmental chiefs and lead farmers to educate their communities and engage with stakeholders to promote sustainable practices. Resource persons from various agencies, including the WRC, Department of Agriculture, Mineral Commission, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Ghana National Fire Service, guided participants on counteracting unsustainable practices that harm the environment and threaten food security.