Selected communities to benefit from $14m coastal development project  

Communities in Ada West, Ada East, and Anloga Districts are set to benefit from a coastal development project aimed at enhancing livelihoods and climate resilience.  

The $14 million “Coastal Community Resilience Improvement Project in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana” is funded by the Adaptation Fund and supported by implementing partners over a four-year period.  

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency during the Regional Steering Committee meeting convened in Accra to assess project progress and endorse the proposed annual work plan, Mr Mouhamadou Diene, Programme Management Officer at UN-Habitat, Côte d’Ivoire, underscored the growing impact of climate change on coastal communities.  

“There would be huge investment in drainages and other infrastructure that would reduce the impact of coastal erosion…Coastal communities are affected by various climate events, and they need to be aware upfront about storms, heavy rains, and high tides.  

“There is the need to build capacity of agencies in charge of climate and weather forecasting so they can liaise with the communities,” he noted.   

Mr. Diene stressed the importance of sensitisation and called for continued support from local governments and communities. He said the next phase would involve stakeholder mapping and engagement with relevant agencies.  

The Regional Steering Committee is co-chaired by Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition (MINEDDTE).  

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) serves as the Multilateral Implementing Entity, with partners including the University of Twente (ITC), Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), and the Abidjan Convention.  

The agreement between the Adaptation Fund and UN-Habitat was signed in October 2023, followed by a Memorandum of Understanding between UN-Habitat and the Government of Ghana, represented by MESTI, in December 2024.  

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Peter Dery, Director of Environment at MESTI, called for “effective and inclusive” implementation.  

“Implementation will demand careful coordination among ministries and agencies, sustained engagement with local governments and communities, continuous monitoring and evaluation, and the flexibility to adapt as conditions evolve on the ground,” he stated.  

Mr. Raymond Ohene Ofori, Deputy Director at MESTI, representing Dr Dery, emphasised stakeholder engagement and community participation.  

“Local ownership is not just desirable; it is essential. Without it, even the best-laid plans will struggle to take root…  

“We must work closely with traditional authorities, local assemblies, civil society and the communities to ensure that interventions are accepted, maintained and sustained long after the project formally closes,” he noted.  

Mr. Mathias Spaliviero, Head of West Africa Hub at UN-Habitat, pledged continued support and called for strong coordination and efficient resource use.  

The project also aims to “promote a regionally replicable adaptation model” while protecting coastal communities and strengthening local institutions.  

Presentations were delivered by UN-Habitat, Adaptation Fund, ITC, and HFHI. Officials from the National Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Côte d’Ivoire MINEDDTE participated both virtually and in person.  

Source: GNA  

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