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

The report examines Ghana's climate adaptation landscape, highlighting the gap between national policy and community-level implementation. It identifies specific locally led adaptation (LLA) practices—such as climate-smart agriculture and nature-based coastal solutions—and argues for the devolution of finance, integration of traditional knowledge, and clearer definitions of 'local' to enhance resilience in vulnerable communities.

• Ghana's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include 47 programmes of action, with 13 specifically focused on adaptation measures. Priority areas include resilient infrastructure, food systems, early warning systems, and the climate resilience of women and vulnerable groups.
• Several national frameworks guide Ghana's climate agenda, including the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) of 2012, the 2015 NDCs, the National Climate Change Master Plan Action Programmes for Implementation (2015–2020), and the National Adaptation Policy Framework (2018).
• Locally led adaptation (LLA) practices vary by ecological zone: women in vulnerable communities use organic shea processing and village savings and loans; farmers employ conservation farming and solar-powered irrigation; and coastal communities in the Keta-Ada stretch use dual canals, mangrove restoration, and beach nourishment to combat erosion.
• Local adaptation efforts provide co-benefits beyond climate resilience, including improved financial literacy, conflict resolution, access to credit for women, and enhanced health and safety.
• The implementation of LLA is hindered by limited financial resources, inadequate institutional coordination, policy gaps, and a lack of support from government institutions for many communities.
• The report recommends that policymakers clarify the definition of 'local' in LLA, as resources often stop at the district level and fail to reach the specific communities in greatest need.

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} }