By James Amoh Junior
Accra, March 14, GNA â Stakeholders have validated findings of a baseline study aimed at strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities in Ghana as part of a regional project covering Ghana and CĂ´te dâIvoire.
The validation workshop, held in Accra, brought together representatives from government institutions, development partners, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and community representatives to review and refine data collected for the âImproved Resilience of Coastal Communities in CĂ´te dâIvoire and Ghanaâ project.
The project is funded by the Adaptation Fund and coordinated by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in collaboration with national and local stakeholders, with Habitat for Humanity International serving as the executing partner for Component Two and ActionAid Ghana as the sub-implementing partner in Ghana.
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana said the workshop marked an important step in ensuring that project implementation was informed by accurate and locally validated data.
He noted that the baseline study provided an evidence-based assessment of the socio-economic and environmental conditions in the beneficiary communities before the start of project interventions.
âThe baseline study we are validating today represents a critical pre-intervention assessment that establishes the âbefore-projectâ status in reference to the projectâs key performance indicators,â he said.
Mr Nkaw explained that the data gathered would serve as a reference point for measuring progress and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve the resilience of coastal populations facing increasing climate risks.
The project targets 11 coastal communities across three districts in the Volta and Greater Accra Regions.
The communities include Azizanya-Kewonor in Ada East, Wokumagbe, Akplagbanya and Goi in Ada West, as well as Whuti, Agbledomi, Tebgi, Woe, Lashibi/Lagbati, Dzita and Agorkedzi/Atiteti in the Anloga District.
According to Mr Nkaw, these communities were selected because they are among the areas most exposed to climate-related hazards such as coastal erosion, flooding and rising sea levels, which threaten livelihoods, homes and local infrastructure.
He emphasised that the validation process would allow stakeholders to review the study findings, enrich the data with local insights and ensure that the final report accurately reflected the realities in the communities.
âAt ActionAid Ghana, we strongly believe that inclusive participation and collaboration with key stakeholders are essential to achieving sustainable and impactful development outcomes,â he said.
The meeting formed part of a broader stakeholder engagement process designed to ensure that national and local actors are fully involved in shaping interventions under the project.
Participants included representatives of national and district authorities, traditional leaders, assembly members, youth representatives and civil society actors.
The workshop featured presentations on the baseline study findings, discussions on the emerging data, and sessions to gather feedback from participants to refine the report and align it with national policy priorities.
Technical experts from MDF West Africa presented the draft baseline report, while project managers and partner institutions outlined the work plan and implementation strategies for Component Two of the project.
The stakeholders discussed collaboration mechanisms and ways to strengthen coordination among implementing partners, local authorities and community leaders to ensure effective project delivery.
Climate change has increasingly intensified coastal challenges in Ghana, particularly along the eastern coastline where communities continue to experience severe erosion, flooding and displacement.
In areas such as Ada and Keta, large portions of coastline have been lost to the sea over the years, affecting fishing livelihoods, housing and social infrastructure.
The stakeholders said strengthening community resilience through improved infrastructure, climate adaptation strategies and community-led initiatives is critical to protecting vulnerable populations and sustaining coastal economies.
The Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities project seeks to address these challenges by supporting adaptive solutions that reduce climate vulnerability while promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative is expected to enhance the capacity of coastal communities to respond to climate threats through improved planning, infrastructure development and community engagement.
Mr Nkaw expressed optimism that the project would contribute significantly to safeguarding lives and livelihoods in Ghanaâs coastal belt.
He thanked the stakeholders and development partners for their continued support and commitment to advancing climate resilience and sustainable development in vulnerable coastal communities.
He said the insights generated during the validation workshop would help ensure that project interventions were responsive to local needs and capable of delivering lasting impact.
Ms Mathabo Makuta, Senior Director for Programmes in Africa and Acting Vice President for HFHIâAfrica, delivering remarks on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International, highlighted the key focus areas under Component Two of the project, which ass being implemented by Habitat for Humanity International in CĂ´te dâIvoire and by ActionAid Ghana.
She said the component was structured around three key outputs: Early Warning Systems, Nature-based Solutions and Alternative Livelihoods aimed at strengthening the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal communities.
Ms Makuta explained that under the Ghana component, early warning systems would be established across all 11 beneficiary communities to enhance preparedness and response to climate-related hazards.
She said nature-based solutions under the project would include the construction of drainage channels and micro-infiltration cells in nine communities, bio-retention basins in five communities, and the restoration of about 411 hectares of mangroves across all 11 communities.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba