Govt launches NAP to strengthen national resilience to climate change

The Government of Ghana has launched the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to strengthen national resilience to climate change. The strategic framework is expected to guide long-term climate planning across all sectors and levels of governance.

The plan, developed by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and implemented by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) with financial support from the Green Climate Fund, provides a coordinated blueprint to confront escalating climate risks affecting communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the Acting Minister in Accra on Thursday, the Chief Director of MEST, Mrs Suweibatu Adam, said the launch marked “a decisive step and a historic milestone” in the country’s collective effort to build a climate-resilient and sustainable future.

She noted that rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, prolonged dry spells, recurrent flooding, coastal erosion, and the rapid loss of ecosystems were already disrupting agriculture, water security, and public health, with women, youth, and vulnerable populations bearing the heaviest burden.

“The signs are clear and demand urgent, deliberate action,” Mrs Adam stressed.

The NAP, she said, was the country’s most comprehensive response yet, offering a long-term framework for reducing vulnerability in climate-sensitive sectors and strengthening resilience at national and subnational levels.

“It identifies adaptation priorities, outlines sector-specific interventions and establishes systems for financing, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability.
The plan aligns with the Paris Agreement and the evolving Global Goal on Adaptation, while complementing Ghana’s nationally determined contributions and development ambitions under the SDGs,” she added.

A key achievement of the NAP, Mrs Adam announced, was the extensive nationwide engagement since 2019, which involved Parliament, MDAs, regional and district authorities, civil society, academia, private sector, vulnerable communities, and youth groups.

“Ghana has also made history as the first African country to embed a dedicated youth strategy in its national adaptation framework, supported by the Strategic Youth Network for Development,” she underlined.

Mrs Adam highlighted major technical outputs, including a national climate vulnerability information portal, downscaled climate scenarios, socio-economic modelling, national climate risk assessments, district vulnerability profiles, sectoral adaptation plans, and contributions to planning standards and climate-responsive building regulations.

The Director and Head of Climate Change and Ozone, Mr Felix Addo-Okyireh, underscored the urgent link between environmental degradation, including deforestation, illegal mining, pollution, and unplanned developments, and worsening climate impacts.

He emphasised the need to mainstream climate considerations across political, administrative, and community levels, ensuring “nobody is left out.” He said the EPA would continue to recommend the removal of structures sited on waterways, although enforcement remained the mandate of district assemblies.

Mr Addo-Okyireh reaffirmed EPA’s commitment to lead the implementation phase, calling for strong coordination, predictable financing, and inclusive approaches that prioritise women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

NAP Project Coordinator, Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, warned that the destruction of wetlands and encroachment of buffer zones had magnified flood risks, stressing that adaptation required behavioural change as much as technical solutions.

He called for climate-resilient infrastructure designs, improved drainage systems, and revisions to school building standards to reduce heat stress and protect learning outcomes.

Dr Amoah commended the media for its ongoing public education efforts and urged expanded awareness creation to help communities understand the realities of climate change and the behavioural shifts required.

BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA

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