By Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Accra, Sept. 11, GNA – Ghana is targeting the restoration of 200 hectares of degraded mangrove by October to strengthen coastal resilience against erosion and flooding.
More than 100 hectares have already been planted in Dzita, Agbledomi, Atiteti, Goi and Wokumagbe in the Ada East, Ada West and Anloga districts.
The target forms part of the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana (IRCC) project, Mr Mouhamadou Diene, Regional Project Coordinator, said in Accra on Thursday.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the third session of the IRCC Steering Committee for Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which reviewed progress, implementation challenges and work plans under the project.
The meeting focused on climate-responsive spatial planning, early warning systems, nature-based solutions, resilient livelihoods and regional cooperation.
The IRCC project, approved by the Adaptation Fund in 2023 with a budget of US$13.99 million, targets 21 coastal communities in the two countries and directly benefits about 126,019 people.
It commenced in September 2024 and covers 11 communities in the Ada East, Ada West and Anloga districts of Ghana and 10 communities in the Grand-Bassam and Jacqueville departments of Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr Diene said mangrove restoration was important for stabilising soils, reducing salinisation, supporting fish habitats and providing natural protection against coastal hazards.
“I would say first of all is to protect what we have in terms of mangrove areas,” he said, calling for sustained community sensitisation and support to protect restored areas.
He said at least 40 per cent of participating women were involved in seedling planting and received allowances to support their participation.
Mr Diene said spatial planning activities were progressing, while preparations for physical interventions, including drainage infrastructure, were advancing through procurement processes.
He said collaboration with the Forestry Commission, hydrological authorities and the Wildlife Division remained important to the project’s implementation.
Mr Diene said although implementation had progressed since the project’s launch, much of the work had so far centred on planning and preparation.
He said community participation in spatial planning was advancing and procurement for physical interventions, including drainage infrastructure, was “very far advanced”.
“We hope also to improve and increase the rate of implementation in the coming months,” Mr Diene, who works with UN-Habitat, said.
Dr Luc Boerboom, Associate Professor at the University of Twente, said the spatial planning component had identified an emerging economic development corridor about 80 kilometres inland from the coast in both countries.
He said developing the secondary corridor could reduce pressure on vulnerable coastal areas, particularly flood-prone estuaries.
“The discovery that we have made is that there is actually a secondary corridor, which is about 80 kilometres north of the coast,” he said.
Dr Boerboom said the approach would redirect economic development towards inland towns with existing facilities such as hospitals and schools, while allowing coastal ecosystems to perform their natural functions.
“Let them do what they need to do. Let them move the water away where they need to move the water away. Give space to the water,” he said.
Dr Boerboom said engineering solutions remained necessary in some locations, but nature-based approaches could also help manage flooding and protect biodiversity.
He said the emerging secondary corridor should be incorporated into local development planning, with investment along the major Abidjan-Lagos corridor complemented by support for responsible inland development.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
11 Sept. 2026
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
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