Ghana Host Coastal Resilience Forum

The government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) with the financial support from the World Bank, is hosting the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP 2) to help address some critical challenges within selected project beneficiary zones in the subregion.

Due to past and current trends in coastal-based social, economic, environmental, climate change, and natural resource management challenges plaguing Ghana, and other African countries that have seen challenges in coastal erosion, community displacements, severe flooding, and loss of livelihoods, the meeting seeks to make various recommendations from the various participants from member states.

Addressing sensitive keynote message, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Patrick Nomo stated that the regional integration meeting aims to strengthen the effective coordination of interventions for coastal resilience in West Africa at the regional and national levels.

According to Nomo, this can be achieved through the consolidation of the regional institutional set-up and harmonisation of policies to seek economies of scale and the development of new strategic partnerships needed for the scale-up of response to the coastal resilience development challenge.

He noted that the degradation, exacerbated by climate change, threatens the physical landscape and the socio-economic stability of coastal communities.

“Every year, an average of 500,000 people in Africa are impacted by coastal erosion, flooding and pollution. In Ghana, the economic toll from flooding alone is projected to reach $160 million annually,” he said.

Environmental Specialist Manon Pascale Cassara, at the World Bank and the Task Team Leader of WACA Ghana urged members of the regional steering committee to strengthen the collaborative spirit across national and regional levels.

She stated that the WACA programme has expanded since its commencement and has welcomed additional countries such as Uganda, Ghana and Guinea-Bissau.

“It also further mobilised resources with financial partners. In total, the programme mobilised nearly $500 million as of today. This expansion also comes with greater demands in terms of coordination, communication and mobilisation, leading regional integration to other levels. We congratulate all the WACA partners for their efforts in this direction,” she added.

Also WAEMU Commissioner Mahamadou Gado who gave a welcome address thanked Ghana for hosting the event and stress the forum seeks to support institutional and policy frameworks around coastal development, protection, and natural resource management.

Mahamadou further stated that the meeting will discuss high-level engagements with institutional leaders and practical field assessments.

He added that
Focus areas will include:
strengthening existing national coordination mechanisms and
development of mechanisms for sub-national coordination, including civil society coordination and Ghana effective implementation Phase Two of WACA, having joined the initiative in 2023.

Importance for Ghana

Ghana’s participation in Phase Two of the WACA project presents a unique opportunity to apply proven strategies from neighboring countries.

Gado emphasised that countries like Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Senegal have seen tangible benefits, including reclaimed eroded areas and sustainable coastal measures.

Inclusive and Accountable Implementation

The forum also underscores the importance of ensuring that the project remains inclusive and benefits local communities.

The programme brought together regional leaders, environmental experts and stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable development and ecological resilience along the West African coast.

By: Frank OWUSU Obimpeh / Priscila Ndede