Climate change in Ghana

Climate change in Ghana will have wide-reaching impacts on the country. Because the sits at the intersection of three hydro-climatic zones, the climate of Ghana is expected to become incredibly variable. Based on a 20-year baseline climate observation, it is forecasted that maize and other cereal crop yields will reduce by 7% by 2050. Available data  also  shows  a  sea level rise of 2.1 mm per year over the last 30 years, indicating a rise of 5.8 cm, 16.5 cm  and  34.5 cm  by  2020,  2050  and 2080. Changes in rainfall, other extreme weather conditions, sea-level rise, and the salinity of coastal waters are expected to negatively affect food security, in both farming and fisheries. The national economy stands to suffer from the impacts of climate change because it is  dependent  on  climate  sensitive-sectors  such  as agriculture,  energy, forestry,   etc. Moreover, access to freshwater is expected to create challenges for both sanitary water, and hydropower which provides 54% of the country's electric capacity. Additionally, Ghana will likely see certain diseases, like malaria and cholera exacerbated by changing weather conditions.

Political action
Ghana signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016 and ratified on 21 September 2016. The first national climate change adaptation strategy in Ghana was developed to be implemented between 2010 and 2020. Adaptation seeks to lower the risks posed by the consequences of climate change. Adaptation measures may be planned in advance or put in place spontaneously in response to a local pressure such as afforestation, land rotation, building climate-resilient structures, solar powered infrastructure, etc. The Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation published a policy framework in 2013.

In 2015, Ghana developed a framework entitled 'Ghana's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution' to outline a plan to reduce carbon emissions and to improve eternity of land use, transportation, and other economic and societal sectors.

Impact on Agriculture
45 percent of the workforce in Ghana depends on small-holder rain-fed agriculture. Disruption due to erratic rainfall and other extreme weather. Moreover, staple crops, such as Cassava and Maize, the major cash crop of Cocoa are expected to seeing decreased production.

Fisheries
Seafood makes up 40-60 percent of protein intake in Ghana. Key species for the economy are expected to have worse reproduction cycles .

Water resources
Expected decreases to water in the primary rivers basins providing fresh water for the country, Volta River, Bia River and Tano River, could increase challenges in getting access to clean drinking water.

Hydropower
Because 54% of national generation capacity is hydropower. Unpredictable rainfall is likely to add uncertainty to a power grid already experiencing frequent outages (known as dumsor). Some estimates suggest that capacity could fall by as much as 50% for the Volta Basin.

Public health
Research projects an increase in waterborne diseases such as cholera and mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.