Press Statement: ActionAid Ghana and IRCC Project Consortium flags Coastal Pollution and Climate Risks as a National Concern, Calls for Urgent Multi-Stakeholder Action on Earth Day 2026

 At ActionAid Ghana, we are raising an alarm over the escalating impact of coastal pollution and climate change on vulnerable communities—an urgent national development and public health concern that demands immediate and coordinated action.

As Ghana joins the global community to mark Earth Day 2026 under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” we are leveraging the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities (IRCC) Project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, to spotlight the growing crisis unfolding along our coastline.

From Ada to Anloga, we are witnessing increasingly severe flooding, widespread plastic pollution, and rapid ecosystem degradation. These conditions are not only destroying livelihoods but are also placing significant strain on local governance systems and public health infrastructure. This is no longer a distant climate narrative, it is a lived reality for thousands of coastal residents. Without urgent action to address waste pollution and restore degraded ecosystems, the socio-economic consequences will deepen, particularly for those already most vulnerable.

Through our field assessments, we have identified a clear and direct link between poor waste management and rising climate vulnerability. Clogged drainage systems and unmanaged plastic waste are intensifying flood risks and accelerating the destruction of critical ecosystems, including wetlands and mangroves.

Ghana’s broader environmental outlook reinforces the urgency of this moment. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Global Forest Watch (GFW) show that the country has experienced significant forest loss, with over 60% of primary forest cover lost historically. Between 2020 and 2024, forest loss continued at an alarming pace, with 18,000 hectares of primary forest lost in 2022—a nearly 70% increase from the previous year and approximately 77,000 hectares of natural forest lost in 2024 alone. Today, Ghana retains about 7.2 million hectares of natural forest, representing roughly 30% of its land area.

Deforestation driven largely by illegal mining (galamsey), agricultural expansion, and unsustainable land use continues to undermine climate resilience, with an estimated economic cost of US$400 million annually (approximately 0.7% of GDP) (World Bank). These pressures, combined with coastal degradation, highlight the interconnected nature of Ghana’s environmental crisis.

As a climate justice organisation, we are advancing nature-based solutions under the IRCC Project, particularly large-scale mangrove restoration and drainage infrastructure, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International, UN-Habitat, the University of Twente, and the Forestry Commission. To date, we have supported the planting of approximately 37,500 mangrove seedlings per hectare, contributing to a total target of 1.25 million seedlings across project sites. This work demonstrates a scalable pathway for climate adaptation—one that integrates environmental protection with livelihood support and community resilience.

We remain deeply concerned about the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, children, and persons with disabilities, and we continue to advocate for inclusive, rights-based, and equity-driven responses at all levels.

We call on all stakeholders—government, private sector, civil society, communities, and the media—to take decisive action. We particularly urge the media to amplify this issue, sustain public engagement, and hold duty-bearers accountable for environmental governance and climate commitments.

As Earth Day shines a global spotlight on our collective responsibility, we emphasise that the time to act is now. Sustained attention, collaboration, and accountability will be critical to protecting Ghana’s coastal future.

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About the IRCC Project

The Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Project is a regional climate adaptation initiative funded by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity International the University of Twente and Abidjan Convention, with ActionAid Ghana as the Component 2 sub-implementing organisation in collaboration with national and local institutions like the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in Ghana. The project works with 11 coastal communities in Ghana to strengthen resilience through nature-based solutions and community-led climate action.

Media Contact:
For more information and interviews, kindly reach out to the PR & Communications Unit of ActionAid Ghana via email on Jacqueline.Parditey@actionaid.org or call
0531024733.