The West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project, Ghana (WACA RESIP 2), aimed at building resilience and restoring vital coastal ecosystems has been launched in Accra. The focus of the project is to strengthen and protect the country’s coastline. Some target areas include the Korle Lagoon, Densu Basin, and Keta Lagoon. This $155 million project, funded by the World Bank, project will tackle issues like flooding, pollution, and erosion.
The funding includes a $150 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and a $5 million grant from PROBLUE, a World Bank-managed multi-donor trust fund. The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) is leading the project, in collaboration with various other ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
During the launch, MESTI Minister Ophelia Mensah Hayford introduced the project steering and technical committees, which include representatives from MDAs, traditional leaders, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Minister Hayford explained that the project will concentrate on controlling coastal erosion and flooding, managing pollution, and restoring ecosystems. In the Korle Lagoon, the project will support ongoing efforts by the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project. This includes building a jetty at the lagoon outlet to prevent sediment buildup and stabilize the lagoon’s banks. In the Densu Delta, the project will enhance spatial planning and enforcement of existing regulations to protect the delta ecosystem. It will also support the planting of vegetation in buffer zones to improve water absorption. In the Keta Lagoon, the focus will be on reforestation and protection, particularly in mangrove areas threatened by saltwater intrusion and rising sea levels. Erosion issues in local communities will also be addressed through interventions based on technical studies and community engagement.
Naila Ahmed, the WACA RESIP 2 Programme Leader at the World Bank, stressed that the project is important in addressing the severe impact of the climate crisis on coastal communities. Coastal erosion in Ghana ranges from two to five meters per year, with some areas experiencing up to 17 meters of erosion annually. Rising sea levels and frequent heavy rainfall further exacerbate flooding and erosion problems.
Ghana’s temperatures have risen by about 1°C since the 1960s and could increase by 1°C to 3°C by mid-century and up to 5.3°C by the end of the century. Increased heavy rainfall is expected to lead to more flooding and erosion, potentially causing annual losses of $160 million. Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof. Patrick Agbesinyale, described the project as a significant step towards restoring Ghana’s coastal resources.
