By James Amoh Junior
Accra, April 22, GNA – ActionAid Ghana has raised concern over the escalating impact of coastal pollution and climate change on vulnerable communities.
It described the situation as a major national development and public health issue requiring urgent and coordinated action.
In a statement issued in Accra to mark Earth Day 2026, the organisation said worsening environmental conditions along Ghana’s coastline were destroying livelihoods, degrading ecosystems, and placing increasing pressure on local governance systems.
The statement noted that communities from Ada to Anloga were experiencing severe flooding, widespread plastic pollution, and rapid environmental degradation, with serious socio-economic consequences if immediate action was not taken.
“As Ghana joins the global community to mark Earth Day on the theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ the reality of climate change is no longer distant, but a lived experience for thousands of coastal residents,” it said.
ActionAid Ghana linked the growing vulnerability of coastal communities to poor waste management practices, explaining that clogged drainage systems and unmanaged plastic waste were intensifying flood risks and accelerating the destruction of wetlands and mangroves.
The NGO highlighted Ghana’s broader environmental challenges, citing data from global agencies which indicate significant forest loss over the years.
It said more than 60 per cent of Ghana’s primary forest cover had been lost historically, while recent years had recorded alarming declines, including about 18,000 hectares of primary forest loss in 2022 and approximately 77,000 hectares of natural forest loss in 2024.
According to the statement, deforestation driven largely by illegal mining, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable land use continued to weaken climate resilience and costs the country an estimated US$400 million annually.
ActionAid Ghana said these environmental pressures, combined with coastal degradation, underscored the interconnected nature of Ghana’s climate and ecological crisis.
To address the situation, the organisation said it was implementing nature-based solutions under the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities Project, including large-scale mangrove restoration and drainage infrastructure development in partnership with international and local institutions.
It said about 37,500 mangrove seedlings per hectare had already been planted, contributing to a broader target of 1.25 million seedlings across project sites.
It described the initiative as a scalable model for climate adaptation that integrated environmental protection with livelihood support and community resilience.
ActionAid Ghana also expressed concern about the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, children, and persons with disabilities, calling for inclusive and rights-based approaches to climate action.
It urged government, the private sector, civil society, communities, and the media to take decisive steps to address environmental degradation and strengthen climate governance.
The statement particularly called on the media to sustain public engagement and hold duty-bearers accountable to their environmental commitments.
“As Earth Day shines a global spotlight on our collective responsibility, the time to act is now,” it said, stressing the need for sustained collaboration and accountability to safeguard Ghana’s coastal future.
GNA
Edited b George-Ramsey Benamba