Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Bekwai Municipal Assembly

The report identifies agriculture as the most vulnerable sector in the Bekwai Municipality, primarily due to a high dependence on rainfed farming and exposure to flooding from the Odo River. Historical data from 1980-2020 shows an increasing trend in temperatures and wet spell durations. Future projections through 2100 suggest rising annual rainfall (reaching 1,500 mm by 2080) and increased daytime and nighttime temperatures, which are expected to exacerbate flooding, water scarcity, and the prevalence of tropical diseases. The assessment highlights that rural communities are less resilient than urban centers due to a lack of critical functions like health care and disaster evacuation points. Recommended adaptation measures include the introduction of drought-resistant seeds, modern solar-powered irrigation, and improved climate information services.

• Agriculture is the most vulnerable sector in the Bekwai Municipality, followed by water, health, and sanitation. This is driven by a high socio-economic dependence on rainfed agriculture, where over half of the population is employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishery.
• Historical climate analysis from 1980 to 2020 indicates that the district has become wetter and warmer, with a non-significant increasing trend in the duration of wet spells and a significant increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures.
• Flooding is the most frequent climatic extreme event in the municipality, particularly affecting communities and farms along the Odo River and its tributaries.
• Future climate projections through 2100 predict a steady increase in annual rainfall, from 1,320 mm to 1,490 mm by 2060 and 1,500 mm by 2080, alongside increased rainfall variability.
• Nighttime and daytime temperatures are projected to rise significantly by the end of the century; nighttime temperatures could reach an annual mean of 24°C under the RCP8.5 emissions pathway.
• Rural communities in the municipality exhibit lower resilience to climate change compared to urban areas like Bekwai and Kokofu due to a lack of diverse economies, better infrastructure, and essential services.
• The municipality lacks critical resilience infrastructure, specifically private solar panel electricity supply and designated disaster evacuation points, leaving the district reliant on a national grid vulnerable to hydropower fluctuations.
• Illegal mining (galamsey) is a major anthropogenic driver of vulnerability, causing deforestation, polluting freshwater bodies with heavy metals, and reducing available agricultural land.
• Women in the municipality face higher climate vulnerability due to limited access to financial resources and their central role in the climate-sensitive palm oil value chain.

APA

Manteaw, D. B., & Ayittah, M. B. (2024). Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Bekwai Municipal Assembly. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ghana-2024-cvra-report-bekwai.pdf

Chicago

Manteaw, Dr. Bob, and Mr. Bernard Ayittah. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Bekwai Municipal Assembly. NAP Global Network, 2024. https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ghana-2024-cvra-report-bekwai.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Manteaw |first1=Dr. Bob |last2=Ayittah |first2=Mr. Bernard |title=Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Bekwai Municipal Assembly |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=March 2024 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ghana-2024-cvra-report-bekwai.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{manteaw2024climate, author = {Manteaw, Dr. Bob and Ayittah, Mr. Bernard}, title = {{Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments for Bekwai Municipal Assembly}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ghana-2024-cvra-report-bekwai.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }