Ghana is taking steps to tackle the increasing threat of coastal erosion by adopting nature-based solutions (NbS), an approach aimed at safeguarding valuable coastal infrastructure, tourism assets, and community livelihoods.
The strategy focuses on restoring and protecting natural ecosystems such as mangroves, sand dunes, and wetlands to provide long-term shoreline stability while generating social and economic benefits.
The Water Resources Commission announced the move during a two-day national dialogue on coastal protection held in Accra, in collaboration with the Ghana Hydrological Authority and Dutch Water Authorities. The dialogue brought together policymakers, researchers, and local stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for scaling up NbS along Ghana’s coastline.
Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo of the University of Ghana’s Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, who chaired the dialogue, said Ghana must begin shifting from heavy reliance on traditional concrete sea defense walls toward more sustainable approaches.
According to him, while hard engineering structures may offer temporary relief, they are expensive, can disrupt coastal ecosystems, and often shift erosion problems to nearby communities. He cited the Keta Sea Defence Project as an example, noting that erosion intensified in surrounding areas, requiring additional intervention.
In contrast, he explained that restoring mangroves and managing natural sediment flow would help rebuild coastal resilience, revive biodiversity, and create new income opportunities through fisheries and eco-tourism.
Experts noted that Ghana’s coastal zone plays a central role in national development, supporting fishing, tourism, agriculture, power generation, and port operations. However, rising sea levels and increasing erosion continue to threaten up to 25 percent of coastal infrastructure, while thousands of residents face displacement each year.
Prof. Addo stressed that investing in NbS aligns with Ghana’s broader ambitions to participate in the blue economy, which promotes sustainable use of ocean resources for economic advancement and ecological preservation.
“Nature-based interventions can stimulate local economies by preserving fisheries, protecting farmlands, and attracting eco-investments. This is how we turn environmental protection into economic opportunity,” he said. He added that the initiative also fits within President Mahama’s Blue Economy vision for inclusive and sustainable coastal development.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Madam Naa Kwarle Quartey of the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) emphasized the need for strong collaboration across government, research institutions, coastal communities, and the private sector.
She noted that nearly five million people live along Ghana’s coast, which also hosts vital fishing and tourism industries as well as power and energy infrastructure. Protecting the coastline, she said, is therefore both an environmental and economic necessity.
Madam Quartey added that adopting nature-based methods could open access to green financing and international climate adaptation funds, as global investors increasingly prioritize resilience-focused projects. She encouraged development partners to work closely with local authorities to scale up mangrove replanting, wetland restoration, and dune reinforcement initiatives.
Participants at the dialogue agreed that prioritising NbS would shift Ghana from short-term fixes to long-term resilience and community empowerment. They highlighted the role healthy ecosystems play not only as natural coastal barriers but also in supporting agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism.
Prof. Addo concluded by saying Ghana must view environmental protection not as a financial burden, but as an investment in national stability and future prosperity.
