Climate change has reduced agricultural productivity across Africa by an estimated 34% since 1961, the largest decline recorded by any region globally, according to a new economic analysis that warns increasingly frequent floods are becoming a drag on growth, inflation and public finances.
Quantitative analyst Kordson Kwasi Ayrakwa said rising temperatures and more intense rainfall are disrupting food production, damaging infrastructure and reducing labour productivity across the continent, exposing economies that remain heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and climate-sensitive sectors.
Drawing on data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Ayrakwa said the continent’s agricultural sector has experienced the sharpest climate-related productivity losses worldwide over the past six decades, threatening food security and long-term economic development.
For Ghana, the recent flooding in Accra illustrates how climate risks are being compounded by rapid urbanisation and weak land-use enforcement.
Heavy rains in June disrupted transport networks, damaged homes and businesses and prompted the Interior Minister to advise residents to remain indoors as flooding overwhelmed parts of the capital.
According to Ayrakwa, decades of development on wetlands and natural waterways have reduced the city’s capacity to absorb stormwater, increasing the frequency and severity of flooding. He identified areas including Tse Addo, parts of Sakumono, Burma Camp, La, Dansoman and Kasoa as locations where urban expansion has encroached on natural drainage systems, while the degradation of the Korle Lagoon has further constrained flood management.
The consequences extend well beyond property damage.
Agriculture accounts for about 60% of employment in Ghana, meaning climate-related disruptions quickly spread through the wider economy. Flooding damages crops through waterlogging, soil erosion and nutrient loss, delays planting seasons and increases livestock diseases, reducing food supplies and adding upward pressure on food prices.
Relatively, in its 2026 Climate Finance Report, OPEC Fund for International Development said climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts and storms are creating “compounding shocks” that simultaneously disrupt energy supplies, food production and government finances, making economies more vulnerable to debt distress.
Transport disruptions also reduce labour productivity as workers struggle to reach farms, factories and offices, while outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria increase absenteeism and healthcare costs.
At the same time, damage to roads, electricity infrastructure, telecommunications networks and logistics corridors disrupts supply chains, slowing manufacturing activity and placing additional financial strain on small and medium-sized businesses with limited capacity to absorb prolonged interruptions.
Ayrakwa said governments need to shift from disaster response to long-term climate adaptation by investing in resilient infrastructure, strengthening drainage systems, enforcing land-use regulations and expanding climate-smart agriculture through improved irrigation, conservation farming and flood-tolerant crop varieties.
He also called for greater investment in weather forecasting and early warning systems, while commending the Ghana Meteorological Agency and local media organisations for providing timely severe weather alerts during recent storms.
“Early warning systems save lives,” Ayrakwa said, “but they must be supported by effective urban planning, stronger institutions and sustained investment in climate resilience.”
The analysis argues that unless governments integrate climate adaptation into economic planning and strengthen disaster preparedness, increasingly frequent extreme weather events will continue to weigh on agricultural output, inflation, infrastructure investment and economic growth across Africa.
