Ghana National Climate Change Policy.

The present National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) is Ghana’s integrated response to climate change. It has been prepared and designed within the context of national sustainable development priorities; it provides a clearly defined pathway for dealing with the challenges of climate change within the current socio-economic context of Ghana, and looks ahead to the opportunities and benefits of a green economy. The afore-mentioned integrated response to climate change is in three phases: Phase One analyses the current situation, and gives the broad policy vision and objectives. Phase Two presents in greater detail, the initiatives and programmes identified in the Policy in the form of an Action Programme for implementation. Phase Three will detail how climate change programmes and actions identified in Phase two can be mainstreamed and embedded in a time bound and budgeted manner, into annual work plans of implementing units.
As such, the Vision outlined in the Policy is as follows: To ensure a climate resilient and climate compatible economy while achieving sustainable development through equitable low carbon economic growth for Ghana. Its principles are in conformity with the existing national policies and national statutes. The National Climate Change Policy provides strategic direction and co-ordinates issues of climate change in Ghana. The three objectives of the Policy are: 1) effective adaptation, 2) social development and 3) mitigation. To address the adaptation issues in Ghana, four thematic areas have been identified. These are: 1) energy and infrastructure, 2) natural resources management, 3) agriculture and food security and 4) disaster preparedness and response.
Moreover, the present Policy recognises that human impact of climate change falls, for the most part, on the poor, and – very often – women and children, the aged and the physically challenged. As such there is a need for social protection and social safety nets to smooth out inequities and build a more cohesive society are vital for climate resilience and national development.
The present Policy has prioritized five main Policy Areas: (i) Agriculture and Food Security; (ii) Disaster Preparedness and Response; (iii) Natural Resource Management; (iv) Equitable Social Development; (v) Energy, Industrial and Infrastructural Development. These Policy Areas have been subdivided into a total of ten Programme Areas that will address the fundamentally critical issues of climate change in Ghana. These will: 1) Develop climate resilient agriculture and food security systems; 2) Build climate resilient infrastructure; 3) Increase resilience of vulnerable communities to climate related risks; 4) Increase carbon sinks; 5) Improve management and resilience of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems; 6) Address impacts of climate change on human health; 7) Minimise impacts of climate change on access to water and sanitation; 8) Address gender issues in climate change; 9) Address climate change and migration, and 10) Minimize greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Overall, these programmes will improve food security, increase the resilience of infrastructure and communities, improve environmental management practices and ecosystems for greater biodiversity and carbon sequestration, optimize key socio-economic factors, and achieve more efficient systems for improved economic growth. The Policy therefore, establishes the fundamental principles and actions for addressing climate change, which will be further elaborated by specific strategies and actions as well as estimated timelines and budget in Phase Two. The text consists of 5 Parts as follows: Introduction and purpose (I); Policy context (II); Policy implementation arrangements (III); Policy themes and strategic focus areas (IV); From Policy to action (V).