Key Highlights:

• Ghana requires approximately $6 billion in funding to implement comprehensive flood prevention and control measures.
• Flooding annually impacts an average of 45,000 people in the country, according to the World Bank, with climate change projected to reduce the income of poor households by up to 40% by 2050.

Floods hit about 45,000 Ghanaians every year, the World Bank reports. Two million people face food insecurity. Climate shocks could slash poor households’ incomes by up to 40% by 2050.

Ghana needs roughly $6 billion to launch a full-scale flood prevention and control program. Public Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister Kenneth Gilbert Adjei revealed this during a June 2025 parliamentary address.

Adjei said his ministry will seek public-private partnerships, climate finance, and development partner support to fund the effort.

“We remain committed to building a Ghana that is flood- resilient, climate-smart and safe for all citizens,” he said. “With the support of Parliament, stakeholders, and the public, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity to build sustainable and inclusive infrastructure and protect our environment.”

Ghana, like many West African nations, is grappling with the growing impacts of climate change, including severe droughts and floods. The World Bank reports that floods affect an average of 45,000 Ghanaians annually.

The bank warns that around two million people remain vulnerable to food insecurity, with natural disasters posing a serious threat to food supplies, particularly in northern and rural regions. Climate shocks could slash incomes for poor households by as much as 40% by 2050.

Urban flooding has worsened due to rapid urbanization in flood-prone zones and inadequate drainage infrastructure that is often poorly maintained.

The World Bank urges Ghana to adopt a development strategy that boosts climate resilience and supports a shift to low-carbon growth. This requires coordinated public and private policies and investments to mitigate the social fallout of climate shocks.

To meet these challenges, the bank recommends integrated agricultural and environmental management, sustainable urban development, resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness through early warning systems, and expanded renewable energy deployment.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio (intern)

Edited in French by Ange Jason Quenum

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