Abstract:
Over the last three decades, communities along Ghana's coastline
have been affected by storm surges, coastal floods and erosion
from relatively less predictable hydro meteorological hazards
and disasters. Using selected coastal communities in the Keta
municipality, this study explores the vulnerabilities of coastal
communities in Ghana and the effectiveness of emerging adaptation
interventions. Evidence for the study was gathered through a
review of relevant secondary documents: a household survey:
focus group discussions and institutional consultations. The paper
reveals several hydro meteorological risks (e.g., shoreline erosion,
storm surges) which threaten the inundation of some communities
and the destruction of infrastructure and coastal resources. While
there is evidence of adaptive governance in terms of institutional
efforts (construction of sea defence wall), there is limited state
commitment towards climate change adaptation and poor local
community engagement. State interventions require co-ordinated
and sustained efforts from national and local level institutions to
ensure adaptation and resilience to coastal vulnerability.
