UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Prosper Adaakai
The Widows and Orphans Movement, WOM, is participating in the Fifth West African Caravan on Land, Water and Peasant Seeds, joining farmers’ organisations, civil society groups, women leaders, youth movements and community activists from across the sub-region to advocate food sovereignty, agroecology, climate justice and women’s land rights.
The West African Caravan is a regional advocacy initiative of the Convergence of Struggles for Land, Water and Peasant Seeds. Since its launch in 2016, the caravan has brought together social movements across West Africa to campaign against land grabbing, promote sustainable management of natural resources and defend the rights of smallholder farmers and rural communities.
This year’s fifth edition is travelling through several West African countries ahead of the 2026 World Social Forum in Cotonou, Benin, where participants are expected to present joint proposals on land governance, climate resilience and food systems.
The Ghana delegation began its journey from Accra on July 28 and made a stop at Agavedzi in the Keta South Municipality to express solidarity with families displaced by recurring tidal waves. Members of the delegation described the visit as a reminder that climate change continues to threaten the livelihoods of vulnerable coastal communities, underscoring the need for greater investment in adaptation and resilience. From Ghana, the caravan proceeded to Togo, where delegates participated in a two-day forum at the University of Lomé on July 30 and 31. Discussions centred on land governance, the protection of water resources, agroecology, food sovereignty and the preservation of indigenous peasant seeds, which campaigners describe as vital to biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
On August 1, participants visited the historic House of Slaves at Agbodrafo, where they reflected on the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and reaffirmed their commitment to justice, human dignity and the protection of natural resources for future generations. The Widows and Orphans Movement says it remains committed to amplifying the voices of women smallholder farmers and advocating secure access to land, sustainable livelihoods and resilient food systems across West Africa. Organisers say the caravan will conclude in Cotonou, Benin, where delegates from across Africa will converge for the World Social Forum to advance policy recommendations on land rights, environmental justice and community-led development.
Source – gbcuraonline.com
