Official Opening of the West Africa Coastal Area (WACA) RESIP-2 Project High-Level Regional Steering Committee Meeting in Accra

Accra, Wednesday, 27th November 2024 – Dr. Patrick Nomo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), on behalf of the Honourable Minister, officially opened the West Africa Coastal Area (WACA) RESIP-2 Project High-Level Regional Steering Committee Meeting today in Accra, Ghana. The event brought together key stakeholders from across West Africa and marked an important step forward in the region’s efforts to address the challenges of coastal erosion, climate change, and environmental degradation.

The WACA RESIP-2 Project is a continuation of the successful WACA Program, which focused on strengthening resilience in coastal communities across the region. The RESIP-2 phase expanded on earlier efforts by enhancing regional cooperation, improving technical capacity, and facilitating sustainable coastal management solutions to safeguard the environment, livelihoods, and economies of coastal areas.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Nomo conveyed the Ghanaian Government’s full support for the WACA RESIP-2 Project, emphasizing that the country remained committed to regional collaboration and proactive measures for environmental protection. He stated that the project was a key component of Ghana’s broader national climate resilience and sustainable development agenda, which included efforts to mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion, flooding, and the rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change.

The WACA RESIP-2 Project was designed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the West African coastline, including the loss of coastal biodiversity, the displacement of coastal communities, and the disruption of vital livelihoods such as fishing and tourism. Over the past few decades, the coastal zones of West Africa had been experiencing accelerated degradation, with large areas of land lost to the sea, threatening food security and undermining the region’s economy. These challenges were compounded by the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storms.

By bringing together governments, development partners, scientists, and technical experts, the High-Level Regional Steering Committee Meeting aimed to strengthen regional coordination and share knowledge to help identify scalable, sustainable solutions to coastal issues. The meeting also provided a platform for discussing best practices, technical solutions, policy frameworks, and funding mechanisms that could support the successful implementation of the WACA RESIP-2 Project across the region.

Key Objectives of the WACA RESIP-2 Project

1. Strengthening the capacity of coastal communities to adapt to climate impacts and build resilience against hazards such as storm surges, sea-level rise, and coastal flooding.
2. Promoting integrated and sustainable management of coastal zones, with a focus on conserving biodiversity, reducing pollution, and preventing further coastal erosion.
3. Enhancing the knowledge and technical skills of stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and regional institutions, to effectively manage and protect coastal resources.
4. Fostering collaboration between West African countries, international organizations, and development partners to address transboundary coastal challenges.
5. Promoting the use of nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration and the protection of coastal wetlands, to mitigate the impacts of coastal degradation.

The project aimed to implement these objectives through a combination of scientific research, community engagement, policy development, and infrastructure investments. Additionally, it sought to facilitate capacity building for local governments and institutions to improve coastal zone governance and management.

The High-Level Regional Steering Committee Meeting brought together representatives from the 15 countries in West Africa, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, and others. In addition to national stakeholders, key international development partners such as the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the African Development Bank (AfDB) participated in the meeting.

Among the attendees were policymakers, scientists, environmental experts, and representatives from regional organizations such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The presence of these diverse stakeholders highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation in tackling the complex challenges facing West Africa’s coastal zones.

MESTI’s Role and Commitment

As the lead agency for environmental management in Ghana, MESTI was fully committed to supporting the WACA RESIP-2 Project, recognizing the vital role that healthy coastal ecosystems play in the country’s socio-economic development. In his address, Dr. Nomo reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15). He also emphasized the importance of empowering local communities, particularly those dependent on coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods, to actively participate in decision-making processes related to coastal management.

The Way Forward

Following the opening ceremony, the meeting continued with in-depth discussions on the implementation strategies of the WACA RESIP-2 Project, as well as the development of an action plan for the coming years. Participants engaged in technical sessions covering key areas such as coastal monitoring, risk assessments, and the integration of climate adaptation strategies into national and regional policies.

The outcomes of the meeting were expected to shape the next phase of the project, ensuring that it addresses the evolving needs of West African coastal communities and fosters sustainable and resilient development across the region.

For more updates on the WACA RESIP-2 Project and its activities, please visit website: http://waca.mesti.gov.gh;