Climate Change Impact in Ghana
One clear climate change impact affecting communities in Ghana is coastal flooding and shoreline erosion along the Gulf of Guinea. Areas such as Keta, Ada, and Cape Coast are increasingly losing land due to rising sea levels and stronger tidal waves. According to assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Bank, parts of Ghana’s coastline are eroding by up to 2 meters per year.
This creates major challenges for coastal communities. Homes, roads, and fishing facilities are frequently damaged or lost, threatening livelihoods that depend on fishing and coastal trade. Saltwater intrusion also affects farmland and freshwater sources.
In response, the government and communities have implemented measures such as the Keta Sea Defence Project and other coastal protection structures. Communities are also adapting by relocating buildings inland and restoring mangroves, which naturally protect coastlines from erosion. These efforts show how local actions are being used to manage the growing risks of climate change.