The average rainfall in Accra has reduced by 2.4 percent since 1960, but the rate of flooding has increased.
Further, Accra could lose close to 20% of rainfall by 2050 if efforts are not made to mitigate the effect of climate change.
Mayor of Accra, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, disclosed this at the launch of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s (AMA) first five-year Accra Climate Action Plan (2020-2025) developed to ensure “a smart, resilient and sustainable city” for the residents.
He said the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) reported an average temperature of one-degree Celsius in 1960 and if actions were not taken not only would Accra lose 20% rainfall but would also “experience a further 21 extra days a year where temperatures would average 40 Degree Celsius or above by 2050.”
He emphasized that climate change was no longer a debatable subject especially in Accra, adding that shadows of past floods and prospects of flooding, whenever there is a heavy downpour, is a reminder.
He said experience and reportage on tidal erosion at beaches of some part of Accra such as Chokor and Gbegbeyese and other parts of the country including Tema, Elimina, Sekondi and Keta, are reminders of the negative impact of Climate Change.
“Through this climate Action Plan and subsequent revisions, Accra aims to reduce emissions to 27% by 2030, to further reduce emissions to 46% by 2040 and attain a total reduction of 73% of the business as usual scenario by 2050,” he said.
The Action would focus on five key areas including solid waste and wastewater; buildings and industry; transportation; land use and physical planning and mainstreaming the climate threat in development processes.
He said the move has made Accra the second C40 City in Africa after Ethikwini (Durban) and the first in West Africa and Ghana to launch the Climate Action Plan.
Mr. Sowah said that Ghana’s urban population has more than tripled over the last three decades and although urbanisation has contributed to the country’s economic growth, it has also come with challenges for urban centres.
He said with the support of the C40, the assembly had secured €80,000 from the Global Center on Adaptation to support Accra in developing climate-resilient urban planning with a focus on risks from flooding and rainfall.
In a remark, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, lauded the AMA for its effort to develop a Climate Action Plan that would minimise greenhouse gas emissions in the environment.
He said it’s important to step up climate action and make development robust and climate-friendly especially at the local level.
He added that “it is the aggregation of local actions that contributes to global success; therefore, the launch of this Plan is not only appropriate but timely.”
Juliet Etefe, ISD
