ActionAid Ghana calls for urgent climate adaptation to protect coastal communities from rising disasters

By James Amoh Junior

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA – ActionAid Ghana has called for immediate and sustained investment in climate adaptation to protect vulnerable coastal communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.

It warns that without urgent intervention, rising sea levels and tidal waves could devastate livelihoods and reverse decades of development gains.

The call came as the world marked the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) on October 13, 2025, on the global theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”

ActionAid said Ghana’s 550-kilometre coastline, stretching from Ada in the Greater Accra Region to Anloga in the Volta Region, was under increasing threat from coastal erosion, flooding, and tidal surges that were displacing families and destroying livelihoods.

In a statement issued in Accra, ActionAid Ghana said climate disasters were no longer distant threats but a daily reality for thousands of coastal residents.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) estimates that thousands of people have already been displaced over the past decade, while local economies based on fishing, farming, and petty trading are collapsing under the strain of recurring climate shocks.

“From Ada to Anloga, families now live in fear with every high tide. Homes, schools, and livelihoods are being washed away, and the poorest communities are paying the highest price,” the organisation said.

It warned that unless Ghana scales up its investment in climate adaptation, existing inequalities will deepen and the gains made in poverty reduction, gender equality, and economic empowerment could be erased.

ActionAid Ghana is leading efforts to strengthen resilience through a regional initiative titled “Improving Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana,” funded by the Adaptation Fund and coordinated by UN-Habitat.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the University of Twente, Habitat for Humanity International, and the Abidjan Convention, with the governments of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire playing key roles.

Under the project, ActionAid Ghana is spearheading a component that focuses on strengthening the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal populations through three main areas; early warning systems, nature-based solutions, and adaptive livelihoods.

Through the establishment of community-based early warning systems, the organisation is working with national and local institutions to ensure that timely and reliable information reaches remote households, helping them act before disaster strikes.

It is also restoring mangroves, wetlands, and coastal vegetation to serve as natural buffers against flooding and erosion while promoting biodiversity and climate regulation.

ActionAid Ghana further supports communities, particularly women and youth, to develop alternative income-generating activities and adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices.

These interventions aim to break the cycle of poverty that makes disasters more devastating and to build local economies that can withstand environmental shocks.

While acknowledging Ghana’s progress in developing policy frameworks such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ActionAid Ghana said implementation had been slow and financing inadequate.

It called for increased national funding for locally driven adaptation initiatives, stronger coordination among ministries, and the integration of climate resilience into local government plans and budgets.

The NGO also urged transparency in the use of climate funds to ensure that the benefits reach the most affected communities.

“What Ghana’s coastal communities need now is not promises, but action, sustained investment, inclusive planning, and protection for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” the statement emphasized.

ActionAid Ghana reiterated that building long-term resilience required public awareness and education, particularly among women and young people.

Through community groups, schools, and youth networks, the organisation is nurturing climate-conscious citizens who can hold leaders accountable and advocate for sustainable policies.

ActionAid Ghana said it was time for government, the private sector, and international partners to work together to “fund resilience, not disasters,” and secure the future of Ghana’s coastal communities.

GNA

Edited by Christian Akorlie