Climate change remains one of the most pressing and transboundary triple planetary crises impacting the world today. Coastal communities are among the most vulnerable, facing a myriad of severe consequences that jeopardise their survival, resilience, and sustainable development.
Africa, the second-largest continent both by land area and population, comprises 54 countries, of which 38 are coastal states. Ghana, a prominent coastal state bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea), is home to four coastal regions: Greater Accra, Central, Western, and Volta. With an estimated Ghanaian population of 34 million, approximately 25% of Ghanaians live along the coast, where communities depend heavily on the ocean and its resources for food, income, and livelihoods. However, these coastal communities are increasingly under threat from climate-related challenges, making it imperative to implement robust adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The depletion of fisheries, coupled with the deterioration of critical ecosystems such as lagoons and estuaries, has left coastal populations grappling with malnutrition, economic instability, and increased vulnerability. These compounding issues exacerbate poverty levels and undermine the ability of these communities to adapt to climate-induced challenges.
In response to these challenges, the Coastal Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Initiative (CRESLI) is being implemented to empower Ghana’s coastal communities particularly, the New Kedzi Community in the Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region of Ghana. This project addresses the socio-economic and environmental impacts of climate change and is designed to equip coastal dwellers with additional and alternative livelihoods to reduce their dependency on climate-sensitive activities, thereby enhancing their resilience to future climate shocks.
Key Objectives of CRESLI
- Livelihood Diversification:
CRESLI seeks to introduce alternative livelihood opportunities that complement existing climate-dependent activities. These alternatives provide a safety net, ensuring communities remain economically viable during climate-induced disruptions. - Technology-Efficient Fish Processing:
Fish processing is a critical livelihood activity for many coastal dwellers. However, the traditional methods often involve inefficient and health-compromising practices. The CRESLI project aims to construct technology-efficient ovens(Ahotor Ovens) that significantly reduce health hazards for fish processors while minimizing smoke contamination in processed fish, ensuring both producers and consumers benefit from safer practices. - Mangrove Conservation and Education:
Mangroves are critical natural resources for coastal resilience. They act as windbreaks, serve as breeding grounds and nurseries for fish, trap plastics and other waste, and absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Despite their ecological importance, mangroves are under severe threat from unsustainable human activities. Coastal dwellers often exploit mangroves for timber, fuel, and infrastructure, driven largely by a lack of awareness about their ecological and economic benefits.
CRESLI emphasizes the conservation of mangroves through community education and capacity-building programs. These initiatives aim to promote sustainable mangrove use while highlighting their role in climate mitigation and ecosystem health.
The CRESLI adopts an integrated approach to resilience-building, combining environmental conservation, technological innovation, and economic empowerment. The initiative is laying the groundwork for sustainability by fostering a deeper understanding of climate change impacts and promoting sustainable practices thereby building a resilient future for Ghana’s coastal communities.
Ghana’s coastal regions are at the forefront of the climate change crisis, but they also present an opportunity to lead the way in resilience-building and sustainable development. Through initiatives like CRESLI, these communities can mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, protect their cultural heritage and ecosystems, and secure a more sustainable and prosperous future. Building the capacity and strengthening the resilience of Ghana’s coastal communities is not just an environmental imperative but also a moral and socio-economic responsibility.
