Over 5.5m coastal residents face danger as a result of degradation

…. US$155m World Bank financed WACA ResIP 2 Ghana project launched

By Juliet ETEFE

An estimated 5.5 million coastal residents in Ghana face significant challenges as 80 percent of the coastline is highly vulnerable to erosion and flooding – with some areas eroding at 4 to 12 metres annually, says the World Bank.

The Bank also projects the cost of coastal degradation at about 4 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, threatening communities, ecosystems and biodiversity, Sustainable Development Programme Leader at the World Bank, Naila Ahmed has noted.

“Coastal degradation costs government and the country about 4% of its GDP each year, threatening communities, ecosystems and biodiversity,” she noted in an address on behalf of the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

She made these remarks at the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project II (WACA ResIP 2) launch held in Accra.

The WACA ResIP 2 Ghana project, financed with a US$150million World Bank loan and a US$5million grant, aims to improve the resilience of targetted communities and regions along the coast to safeguard livelihoods and ecosystems.

In an address, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) Ophelia Mensah-Hayford also highlighted the alarming rate of coastal erosion and how climate change has further exacerbated this situation along the country’s coast.

She however stressed that as a country with an economy historically driven by high reliance on natural resources, managing the coastal zone and natural environment is crucial for sustainable development and climate resilience.

As such, WACA ResIP’s timely support to restore the coastal areas is invaluable and worthy of commendation.

WACA ResIP

“The core objective of WACA ResIP is to address coastal erosion, flooding, pollution and ecosystem vulnerability, both nationally and regionally. The programme integrates activities of countries and regional institutions to achieve transformational and sustainable change in coastal zone management.

“It is a multifaceted approach that aims to strengthen the resilience of targetted communities and areas in coastal West Africa by engaging countries through technical assistance, finance and dialogue.

“This project directly responds to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in coastal areas, which are among the most climate-vulnerable habitats,” the minister explained.

WACA ResIP project in Ghana

The WACA ResIP project in Ghana will focus on coastal erosion and flooding control works, pollution control, ecosystem management and restoration activities.

Social sub-projects will also be developed to support coastal communities. Specifically, the project will target physical interventions at Korle Lagoon, Densu Delta and Keta Lagoon Complex.

At Korle Lagoon, the project will complement ongoing work by Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GRID) to construct a jetty at the lagoon outlet, prevent sediment accumulation and stabilise the lagoon’s embankments through riprap structures and vegetation.

In the Densu Delta, the project will support improved spatial planning and enforcement capacities for existing regulations in protected areas to minimise further encroachment into the delta ecosystem. Additionally, it will support the vegetation of buffer areas in upstream waterways and within the delta to increase absorption capacity.

The project interventions at the Keta Lagoon Complex will focus on reforestation and protection, especially in mangrove areas threatened by saline intrusion due to coastal erosion and sea-level rise.

Efforts will also address erosion issues in communities throughout the complex, with potential-focused interventions determined based on technical studies and extensive stakeholder engagement.

“This project is not just about mitigating environmental damage, it’s also about creating opportunities for job and wealth creation – thus contributing to the overall socio-economic development of our nation,” the minister added.

Collaborate for success

To this end, Ms. Ahmed urged government partners to provide the necessary institutional support while encouraging the private sector and development partners to invest and collaborate.

She also highlighted the essential role of civil society organisations and community leaders in ensuring that the voices of affected communities are heard and their needs are met.

Prof. Patrick K. Agbesinyale, Chief Director-Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), assured that the investments under this project will be sustained and commended MESTI for their efforts.

The Awomefia of Anlo State, Togbe Sri III, emphasised the project’s significance for the local people – who have been severely affected by climate change, tidal waves and other climate-related challenges threatening their livelihoods.

He pledged to engage all necessary institutions to ensure effective collaboration and the project’s success.

Background.

Since the 1960s, Ghana has experienced a temperature rise of approximately 1°C, with projections indicating an increase of between 1°C and 3°C by mid-century and between 2.3°C and 5.3°C by end of the century. Heavy rainfall events are also expected to increase, resulting in more frequent flooding, flash-floods and riverbank erosion.

Every year, an average of 500,000 people in Africa are affected by aggravated coastal erosion, flooding and pollution. These coastal disasters not only threaten physical landscapes but also destabilise the socio-economic fabric of our coastal communities.

The post Over 5.5m coastal residents face danger as a result of degradation appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story