Capital: Accra

Total Population : 29.6 millions

Coastal Population: 

Urban Coastal Population: 

Coastline: 550 km

Coastal Zone of Ghana

The coastal zone in Ghana is very diverse and consist of Industrial economic sectors include minerals mining, oil and gas production, cement production, aluminum smelting, sand extraction, thermal electricity generation, and hydroelectricity generation. The largely unplanned development of Ghana’s coastal areas and inadequate management of its coastal resources is a challenge.  A significant expansion of ports and related infrastructure is contributing to severe erosion of shorelines in Ghana, physical works for coastal protection are limited, and often exacerbate erosion issues in communities downstream.  Inadequate maintenance of river channels and basins, especially where dams exist, further disrupt the sediment balance in coastal communities, which face combined threat of riverine and coastal inundation as shoreline erosion. Natural resources such as mangroves can serve as protective barriers to these natural hazards but are subject to deforestation and mismanagement. Development and other activities in Ghana’s coastal areas tend to be ad hoc and uncoordinated, with multiple agencies sharing overlapping mandates with no central coordination mechanism.  The Coastal Development Authority was recently formed to address issues of coordination but is nascent and under-capacitated to fulfill its mandate.

Detailed information on Ghana’s coast is provided here (will be added)

Action Planning

Multisectoral Investment Plan (MSIP) is being prepared for Ghana and will include three distinct activities: 1) a risk assessment of coastal hazards (flooding and erosion); 2) an identification of intervention sites ("hotspots" – communities, critical infrastructure, and economic activities highly vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and pollution) in coastal areas, based on technical analyses and consultations with stakeholders; and 3) the development of specific investment needs (and intervention options) for strengthened coastal resilience.

WACA Interventions

The project is expected to finance site-specific interventions for coastal protection to finance a mix of gray, green, and hybrid infrastructure solutions at multiple sites to reduce risks of flooding and erosion. Green solutions include submerged native aquatic vegetation, mangrove protection and reforestation to serve as a buffer to inundation and sea-level rise, and/or sand fill to restore shorelines between communities and the sea. Potential grey solutions include small-scale localized infrastructure such as groynes or breakwaters for erosion control/sediment management, while hybrid solutions incorporate both approaches depending on site-specific needs and characteristics. Known priority sites where pre-feasibility studies are ongoing include communities in the (i) Pra River Estuary and (ii) left bank of Volta River Mouth including the stretch of coast of Anyanui-Agbledomi-Dzita. The project will also support interventions for social development and economic recovery based on the needs of affected coastal communities. Special attention will be given to ensure opportunities for marginalized groups, including women and indigenous peoples. The project will support participatory activities (social subprojects) to work with communities on nature protection and conservation and alternative livelihoods for an estimated 20-30 communities.

Key agencies

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI), Ministry of Environment and Biodiversity (MAB), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has established a project implementation unit to coordinate project activities supported by multiple partners.

Contact

Ghana is seeking partners with resources available to scale up support on coastal resilience. WACA Coordinator for Ghana is Peter Dery.