Accra: The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is developing two climate finance concept notes, one on ecosystem restoration and another on coastal resilience, to support district assemblies in translating their adaptation plans into concrete, fundable actions. These concept notes are expected to also help the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to move from planning to implementation by integrating climate priorities into their Medium-Term Development Plans.
According to Ghana News Agency, Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Project Coordinator, disclosed this during the final local stakeholder engagements ahead of the official launch of Ghana's NAP document. The EPA-led initiative seeks to build Ghana's capacity to mainstream climate adaptation into national and subnational development planning frameworks.
Dr Amoah highlighted that of the more than 40 assemblies currently working on adaptation plans, only the Bekwai Municipality, with support from EPA, has started developing an investment plan. He noted that while the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has developed a climate action plan, the status of its investment plan remains unclear. The absence of well-defined investment strategies at the district level was identified as a critical bottleneck to securing climate finance.
'It is one thing to have a plan and another to present a compelling business case for funding. That is where the challenge lies,' Dr Amoah stated. He emphasized that assemblies cannot attract financing, domestic or international, without investment plans. Conducting vulnerability assessments at the district level remains costly due to the need for context-specific climate and socio-economic information and data.
The EPA is working to facilitate climate funds mobilisation for subnational adaptation action while encouraging assemblies to engage directly with development partners and donors. Dr Amoah explained the national vision for vertical and horizontal integration of climate adaptation, emphasizing the need for all assemblies to be included in these efforts.
Ms Stella Okoh, Deputy Director at EPA and Learning Lead of the Ghana NAP, acknowledged that Ghana's journey toward climate resilience is progressing but remains uneven due to financial constraints. She stressed the importance of greater investment, stronger partnerships, and improved public awareness to bridge the gap between planning and execution, particularly at the local government level.
Mr Samuel Andoh Armah, Municipal Development Planning Officer of the Bekwai Municipality, confirmed that the Assembly was integrating its climate actions into the ongoing Medium-Term Development Plan. He noted the necessity of developing an investment plan to attract additional funding due to insufficient government funding alone.
Launched in 2020, the NAP is Ghana's strategic initiative to use future climate projections, spanning up to 2080, to guide development planning. The project aims to prepare the country technically, strategically, and institutionally to effectively respond to climate change. It is mainly funded by the Green Climate Fund with additional support from the NAP Global Network, through the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Capital Development Fund's LoCAL Initiative, and several other partners.
The NAP process promotes evidence-based planning, local ownership, and policy integration, with the support of organizations like WaterAid Ghana, Global Centre on Adaptation, Strategic Youth Network for Development, Youth Empowerment for Development (YefL Ghana), and the Global Affairs Canada through the SIGRA project.
