Ghana is likely to experience increased risks and intensity of water scarcity and drought across the country, according to a World Bank report on climate change.
Meanwhile, the primary sectors affected are water, agriculture and forestry, and human health. The report notes this as a key trend alongside indicating that Ghana will continue to get warmer, as a result of increasing temperatures over the years.
Moreover, the report highlights that heavy rainfall events are also expected to increase. This is against the backdrop that rainfall is highly variable in Ghana.
Considering the frequency and complexity of some of these disaster events, they are also increasing, especially flooding, the report hints.
Also, climate change and variability are already affecting Ghana’s water resources damage and flood exposure is projected to result in $160 million annually due to flooding.
Accordingly, the country has been impacted by seven major floods in the last two decades. In 2007, floods caused damage to infrastructure and livelihoods in excess of US$130 million and affected more than 265,000 people in the three northern regions.
The extent of the damages caused led to nearly 100,000 people requiring assistance in various forms to cope and restore their livelihoods. Additionally, these floods were preceded by a period of drought that destroyed most food crops.
More so, temperatures have increased since the 1960s by approximately 1°C, averaging 0.21°C per decade, the report reveals.
Wholly, the report highlights that the rates of increase in temperatures have been more rapid in the north of the country. Minimum temperatures have been seen in the southern regions such as the rainforest, coastal, agro-ecological areas.
However, the rate of temperature rise for the middle and northern parts of Ghana, especially the savannah zones increased by 37%, the report reveals.
Other Challenges Ghana faces
Also, there are additional challenges that Ghana faces. And these are due to the country’s high rate of urbanization and relatively large population migrations from rural agricultural livelihoods to urban centers.
These challenges are exacerbated by climate stressors such as floods and droughts that are increasingly putting pressure on service delivery, adaptation needs and financing.
Bernice Van Bronkhorst, the Global Director for the World Bank’s Climate Change Group (CCG) remarked that:
“For developing countries, the climate risk profiles are intended to serve as public goods to facilitate upstream country diagnostics, policy dialogue, and strategic planning.
“By providing comprehensive overviews of trends and projected changes in key climate parameters, sector-specific implications, relevant policies and programs, adaptation priorities and opportunities for further actions.
“It is my hope that these efforts will spur deepening of long-term risk management in developing countries and our engagement in supporting climate change adaptation planning at operational levels.”
Bernice Van Bronkhorst, the Global Director for the World Bank’s Climate Change Group (CCG)
In 2016, Ghana submitted its Nationally Determined to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC), in support of the country’s efforts to accelerate its development goals and increase its resilience to climate change.
Particularly, Ghana is focused on increasing its resilience through the development of sustainable land use practices, including food security, climate-proof infrastructure, energy security, sustainable forest management and urban waste management.
Therefore, key sectors in focus include energy, industry, waste and forestry sectors in order to reduce the country’s carbon emissions.
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