Unlocking Adaptation Potential: Insights into Ghana’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) examines climate change adaptation policies and locally led adaptation (LLA) in Ghana. Through literature reviews, stakeholder workshops, and three case studies, the research identifies barriers to local implementation—such as limited funding and poor institutional coordination—and provides recommendations to better integrate community-level needs into Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Ghana's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include 47 programmes of action, of which 13 are specific adaptation measures. Priority areas for adaptation include food systems, agricultural landscapes, resilient infrastructure, urban planning, early warning systems, social inclusion, and the climate resilience of women and vulnerable groups.
• The research identified several national policies and strategies guiding climate action in Ghana, including the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), the National Adaptation Policy Framework (2018), the 2015 NDCs, the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) of 2012, and the National Climate Change Master Plan Action Programmes for Implementation (2015–2020).
• Local communities employ various adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability and improve livelihoods, including climate-smart agriculture, soil conservation, and ecosystem-based approaches. Specific examples include Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), energy-saving stoves, solar-powered irrigation, organic farming, mangrove forest restoration, and the use of dual canals and beach nourishment in the Keta-Ada stretch.
• Locally led adaptation (LLA) provides co-benefits beyond climate resilience, such as improved financial literacy, access to credit for women, conflict resolution, enhanced health and safety, and reduced economic losses.
• Significant barriers hinder the effectiveness of LLA in Ghana, specifically limited financial resources, gaps in policy, and inadequate coordination between institutions. Additionally, many communities report a lack of support from relevant organisations and government institutions.
• The report recommends that policy makers clarify the definition of 'local' in LLA to ensure resources reach the community level rather than stopping at the district or regional level. Other recommendations include devolving financial resources to small-scale farmers and women's groups, integrating traditional knowledge into strategies, and mainstreaming adaptation into national and local development planning.

APA

Arhin, A., & Tetteh, R. O. (2023). Unlocking Adaptation Potential: Insights into Ghana’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/unlocking-adaptation-potential-insights-into-ghanas-climate-change-policies-initiatives-and-local-actions

Chicago

Arhin, Albert, and Richard Oblitei Tetteh. Unlocking Adaptation Potential: Insights into Ghana’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/unlocking-adaptation-potential-insights-into-ghanas-climate-change-policies-initiatives-and-local-actions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Arhin |first1=Albert |last2=Tetteh |first2=Richard Oblitei |title=Unlocking Adaptation Potential: Insights into Ghana’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=10 August 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/unlocking-adaptation-potential-insights-into-ghanas-climate-change-policies-initiatives-and-local-actions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{arhin2023unlocking, author = {Arhin, Albert and Tetteh, Richard Oblitei}, title = {{Unlocking Adaptation Potential: Insights into Ghana’s climate change policies, initiatives and local actions}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://afripoli.org/unlocking-adaptation-potential-insights-into-ghanas-climate-change-policies-initiatives-and-local-actions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }