An estimated 5.5 million coastal residents in Ghana are grappling with significant challenges due to severe erosion and flooding, affecting 80% of the country’s coastline.
The World Bank reports that some coastal areas are eroding at rates of 4 to 12 meters annually.
The economic impact of this coastal degradation is substantial, costing approximately 4% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year.
This ongoing issue threatens local communities, ecosystems, and biodiversity, as highlighted by Naila Ahmed, Sustainable Development Programme Leader at the World Bank.
“Coastal degradation costs government and the country about 4% of its GDP each year, threatening communities, ecosystems and biodiversity,” she noted in an address on behalf of the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Ahmed made these remarks during the launch of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project II (WACA ResIP 2) in Accra.
The project, supported by a $150 million World Bank loan and a $5 million grant, aims to enhance the resilience of targeted coastal communities and ecosystems, thereby safeguarding livelihoods and natural resources.
Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) Ophelia Mensah-Hayford emphasized the urgent need to address coastal erosion exacerbated by climate change.
She stressed the importance of managing Ghana’s coastal zones for sustainable development and climate resilience, acknowledging the significant role of the WACA ResIP in restoring these areas.
“The core objective of WACA ResIP is to address coastal erosion, flooding, pollution and ecosystem vulnerability, both nationally and regionally. The programme integrates activities of countries and regional institutions to achieve transformational and sustainable change in coastal zone management.
“It is a multifaceted approach that aims to strengthen the resilience of targetted communities and areas in coastal West Africa by engaging countries through technical assistance, finance and dialogue.
“This project directly responds to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in coastal areas, which are among the most climate-vulnerable habitats,” the minister explained.
The WACA ResIP initiative focuses on mitigating coastal erosion, flooding, pollution, and ecosystem vulnerability on both a national and regional scale.
It aims to foster transformational and sustainable change in coastal management through technical assistance, financial support, and regional collaboration. The project aligns with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate adaptation in vulnerable coastal areas.
In Ghana, the WACA ResIP will tackle erosion and flooding through specific interventions at Korle Lagoon, Densu Delta, and the Keta Lagoon Complex.
At Korle Lagoon, the project will enhance ongoing efforts to construct a jetty, prevent sediment buildup, and stabilize embankments.
In the Densu Delta, the focus will be on improving spatial planning and enforcement to protect the delta ecosystem and bolster buffer vegetation.
The Keta Lagoon Complex will see initiatives aimed at reforestation, particularly in mangrove areas affected by saline intrusion and sea-level rise, alongside efforts to address erosion throughout the complex.
The project is designed to go beyond environmental remediation by creating job opportunities and contributing to national socio-economic development. Collaboration among government partners, the private sector, development partners, and civil society is crucial for the project’s success.
Prof. Patrick K. Agbesinyale, Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Awomefia of Anlo State, Togbe Sri III, have both underscored the importance of this initiative for local communities and pledged their support for its effective implementation.
Since the 1960s, Ghana has experienced a temperature rise of about 1°C, with projections indicating further increases between 1°C and 3°C by mid-century, and between 2.3°C and 5.3°C by the end of the century.
This warming trend is expected to intensify heavy rainfall, leading to more frequent flooding, flash floods, and riverbank erosion. Coastal communities in Africa, including Ghana, face increasing threats from erosion, flooding, and pollution, which undermine both physical landscapes and socio-economic stability.