Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana

The document reviews Ghana's climate risk profile, noting that while it is less vulnerable than some West African neighbors, the northern regions face high risks due to poverty and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. It evaluates national policies like the National Climate Change Policy (2014) and the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2010–2020), finding that while these provide a framework, sectoral policies—particularly in agriculture and health—often lack concrete adaptation actions. The review identifies a strong concentration of adaptation projects in the agricultural sector, primarily in northern Ghana, and notes that while Ghana is a significant recipient of bilateral adaptation funds in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a gap in funding for the water, fisheries, and health sectors.

• Ghana has experienced a mean annual temperature increase of 1°C since 1960, with the highest rate of increase occurring in northern Ghana.
• The northern part of Ghana is identified as the most vulnerable region due to high poverty levels, dry conditions, and a heavy reliance on agriculture for livelihoods.
• Agriculture is the most targeted sector for adaptation projects, accounting for 58% of the 12 significant initiatives identified in the review.
• The National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), launched in 2014, and the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS), covering 2010–2020, serve as the primary national frameworks for adaptation.
• There is a significant gap in the integration of climate change into sectoral policies; for example, the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (2007) mentions climate change only briefly and lacks specific adaptation objectives.
• Ghana is a major recipient of bilateral adaptation funds in Sub-Saharan Africa, though it ranks lower than least developed countries like Niger when receiving multilateral adaptation funding.
• Women in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to gender inequalities that limit their access to financial services, information, technology, and secure land tenure.
• The energy sector is highly dependent on hydropower, making it vulnerable to rainfall variability; for instance, in 2003, energy production reached only 60% of 2000 levels due to lower precipitation.
• Despite being identified as priorities by the government, the review found no active adaptation projects specifically targeting the fisheries and health sectors.

APA

Dazé, A., & Echeverría, D. (2016). Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55865-ghana.pdf

Chicago

Dazé, Angie, and Daniella Echeverría. Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2016. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55865-ghana.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dazé |first1=Angie |last2=Echeverría |first2=Daniella |title=Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2016 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55865-ghana.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{daz2016review, author = {Dazé, Angie and Echeverría, Daniella}, title = {{Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Ghana}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55865-ghana.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }