Ghana has begun the implementation of a major coastal resilience project aimed at strengthening the adaptive capacity of selected coastal communities in Ada East, Ada West, and the Keta-Angola area.
The project, funded by the Adaptation Fund—a United Nations–backed global mechanism that supports countries to address the impacts of climate change—seeks to tackle persistent coastal challenges including erosion, pollution, mangrove degradation, flooding risks, and declining livelihoods, particularly among fishing communities.
Ghana’s coastline supports key sectors such as transport, energy, fisheries, water resources, and natural resources, making its protection a national priority.
A Director at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Dr Peter J. Dery, disclosed this at the closing of the second session of the steering committee meeting of the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities project. He highlighted the importance of learning from Côte d’Ivoire’s experiences and best practices in coastal management, mangrove restoration, and climate change adaptation.
Dr Dery explained that this regional collaboration is expected to strengthen local solutions to shared coastal challenges and support district-level spatial and community planning. These efforts aim to guide infrastructure development, protect sensitive coastal habitats, and promote sustainable land use.
He added that district assemblies were being trained to collect and analyze data for integration into spatial development plans, noting that “Although still in its early stages, with about three years remaining, implementation structures have been fully established.”
Data collection has commenced, capacity-building activities are ongoing, and pilot mangrove restoration initiatives are being implemented in selected areas with support from ActionAid.
Dr Dery emphasized that the project is being implemented by MEST in partnership with UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity, and national stakeholders. Furthermore, a National Steering Committee made up of key state institutions is providing oversight to ensure effective implementation and tangible benefits for coastal communities.
An Associate Professor of Spatial Planning at the University of Twente, Netherlands, Dr Luc Bourbon, underscored the importance of knowledge exchange between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire for the success of a joint climate adaptation project along the West African coast.
He explained that although both countries face similar climate-related challenges, their planning systems and solution pathways differ, making collaboration and shared learning critical. Dr Bourbon added that universities play a central role in generating, managing, and exchanging knowledge, particularly on spatial planning, decision support systems, and climate adaptation strategies.
Touching on data management, he noted that both countries have existing data systems, but accessibility remains a challenge, especially for communities and subnational authorities. Dr Bourbon stressed the need to make climate-sensitive and transnational datasets available at all levels to support effective adaptation.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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