Climate

BACKGROUND

Ghana has many distinct ecological zones that support a wide variety of livelihoods that are affected by the changing climate. Rising sea levels, drought, higher temperatures, and erratic rainfall negatively impact infrastructure, hydropower production, food security, and coastal and agricultural livelihoods.

On behalf of the American people, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) works with the Government of Ghana to mitigate the effects of climate change by supporting the expansion of clean, reliable energy. USAID also works with smallholder farmers and fishers to adopt more sustainable agricultural and fishing practices, reduce deforestation, and build community resilience to changing rainfall, rising sea levels, and rising temperatures.

GOALS AND KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

GOAL 1. DIVERSIFYING GHANA’S ENERGY MIX

USAID supports Ghana’s efforts to reach its target emission goals and find innovative ways to integrate variable renewable energy into the national energy grid.

Key achievements (from FY 2022):

• Supported reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,000,000 metric tons per year— the equivalent of taking 27% of cars off Ghana’s roads—by lowering liquid fuel use, increasing the availability of natural gas for power generation, and promoting solar power.
• Provided technical assistance to deploy a new hydro-solar plant. The plant, the first of its kind in West Africa, will put Ghana on track to cut its power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 235,000 tons per year.
• Supported smallholder farmers to install solar-powered irrigation, thus providing a cost-effective way to keep growing and harvesting crops throughout the dry season in Ghana. The intervention will also help communities be more resilient to increasing periods of drought and ongoing desertification.

GOAL 2. INTEGRATING CLIMATE SMART TECHNOLOGY AND RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Ghana is dependent on its natural resources. Close to 50% of Ghana’s population still relies on rain-fed agriculture for food and income, while fisheries comprise nearly five percent of the country’s GDP. USAID works with government officials and local stakeholders to update agricultural policies with broadened scopes that include greater integration of climate-smart technologies and indigenous risk management practices.

Key achievements:

• Partnered with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission to implement a directive that defined the sustainable fishing gear used by industrial trawlers and established landing beach enforcement committees to enforce the directive.
• Supported the Ghana Meteorological Agency to launch the National Framework for Climate Services in Ghana. This strategic document provides an overarching framework governing climate information services.
• Supported the production and use of stress-tolerant, climate-smart certified seeds. This includes seeds for maize, soybean, groundnut, and cowpea. More than 8,200 metric tons of certified seed was produced and disseminated, reaching over 200,000 smallholder farmers to establish about 330,720 hectares of fields. These interventions have contributed to the production of more than 600,000 metric tons of grain.
• Partnered with private sector companies pursuing innovative solutions in northern Ghana.