ACCESS4ALL Group

Like the  Philippines, Ghana is very vulnerable to climate change, especially in the coastal regions. Natural hazards including coastal floods, sea erosions, storm surges, droughts and heavy rainfall are increasing in frequency and intensity in Ghana and this has been a result of climate change. The elevation of the sea level and the variation in rainfall are two factors that make flooding more severe in low-lying and coastal regions, whereas dry seasons in the northern regions have lasting impacts on agriculture.

Some of the areas most affected include the coastal regions of Ghana and areas alongside the Gulf of Guinea like Keta, Ada, and some parts of Accra and the Weija region. Flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion are a common problem in these areas affecting homes, livelihood, and important infrastructure. Like in the Philippines, destruction of natural protection ecosystems especially the mangroves and wetlands has increased the effects of storms and flooding. The clearing of mangroves in Ghana over the years has been attributed to the need to acquire fuelwood, salt mining, aquaculture and settlement development as they become less efficient in natural buffers against waves and floods.

Fishing community, small-scale farmers, as well as low-income urban settlements, in flood-prone areas are the most affected communities. These populations rely heavily on natural resources as a source of livelihood and in most cases, they do not have the financial means to bail out in case of any disaster associated with climate change. Floods destroy houses and fishing machinery, depleted fish supply, polluted water bodies and contributed health hazards, further poverty and susceptibility.

Local communities in Ghana have in turn adopted a number of coping and adaptation strategies. The mangroves are also being restored in some coastal communities, especially in Volta Delta, with the assistance of NGOs and community-based organizations. Others have been dependent on informal and unofficial solutions like raising houses, constructing temporary flood control structures, and diversification of livelihoods or evacuation of the most susceptible places. These also resemble the community-based mangrove rehabilitation observed in the Philippines, although they are at times smaller and have issues with funding and enforcement.

The government and non-governmental organizations also contribute towards the support of communities. The agencies that offer disaster response programs, environmental awareness and restoration of the ecosystem programs include Natural Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Forestry Commission. The mangrove replanting, climate education and livelihood diversification projects are supported by the NGOs and international partners. However, unlike the Philippines scenario where the restoration of mangroves became a powerful, society-wide message of resilience and economic empowerment, in Ghana all these efforts are usually disjointed and limited by poor enforcement of the environmental laws and high rates of urbanization.

All in all, it can be seen in the comparison that there are high similarities in the risks of climate, loss of ecosystems, and the vulnerability of communities, whereas the magnitude, coordination, and noticeability of solutions vary. The case of the Philippines illustrates the services that the community-driven, well-supported ecosystem restoration can offer to the resilience, livelihoods, and marginalized communities. This strategy can offer valuable lessons to Ghana, and it will be necessary to put increased investment in nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration, empowering the community, and incorporating climate adaptation into the local development agenda.