Ghana has received a $155 million grant and loan from the World Bank to help restore the country’s degraded coastal areas. The funding, under the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) 2 Resilience Investment Project, aims to build the resilience of coastal communities in Accra and the Volta Region against flooding, erosion, pollution, and ecosystem vulnerability on both national and regional levels.
Over the next five years, eight other West African countries, including Benin, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, and Côte d’Ivoire, will benefit from similar projects. The WACA 2 project will enhance the resilience of selected coastal communities in Accra and the Volta Region, specifically targeting areas within the Korle Lagoon, Densu, and Keta Lagoon Complex.
Launching the project in Accra, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, highlighted the multifaceted approach of the project, designed to strengthen the resilience of targeted communities and areas in coastal West Africa. She cited the threats posed by climatic effects such as tidal waves and rising sea levels, which destabilize the socio-economic fabric of coastal communities. The minister emphasized that the success of the project depends on the inclusion and commitment of a wide range of local, regional, and global partners, and that the project will leverage existing initiatives to avoid duplication of efforts and resources.
Hayford also noted that the current arrangement of individual institutions with specific responsibilities for coastal zone management needs revision. She pointed out that the project directly responds to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in coastal areas, which are among the most climate-vulnerable habitats. The project is being implemented in collaboration with various stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) involved in coastal management.
Kofi Agbogah, who chairs the Coastal CSOs Forum, stated that the project contributes to the policy process at both the technical and steering committee levels. It engages all implementation entities to ensure a value-for-money project, monitoring compliance and accountability. Agbogah also mentioned that the project will provide expertise in mobilizing and informing knowledge exchange, as well as supporting beneficiary communities in their ground actions and monitoring project activities.
Traditional authorities in the communities were also involved, recognizing their key role in sustaining the project. Former Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, Clement Kofi Humado, speaking on behalf of the Awomefia of the Anlo Traditional Area, Togbe Sri, welcomed the WACA 2 project. He noted that the Anlo area has suffered the effects of climate change over the past decade, with tidal waves destroying coastline houses and livelihoods, creating an existential threat to the region’s development. Humado mentioned that the area, which hosts the country’s largest Ramsar site, has been suffering from a loss of fisheries and migration, making the project timely.
In response, the Anlo Traditional Council has established a technical committee to ensure the successful implementation of the project in their area. Naila Ahmed from the World Bank underscored the bank’s commitment to protecting and making coastal areas in Ghana resilient for future generations, justifying the support provided through the loan. The event also saw the inauguration of National and Technical Steering Committee members, including representatives from state institutions, academia, and CSOs.