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Ghana charts bold path with first National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy – EnviroNews
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On Thursday, June 25, 2026, a humid morning in Accra, as the rains threatened to break, a group of people including policymakers, technocrats, development partners, academicians, civil society members, representatives of Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and the private sector gathered under one roof with a common purpose: to forge a new path for Ghana’s resilience.
The occasion was the launch of consultations for Ghana’s first National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy and Action Plan, under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in partnership with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
For years, Ghana has relied on fragmented frameworks: the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) to guide disaster preparedness. While these policies have provided direction, their implementation has been undermined by weak enforcement, poor urban planning, limited funding, and low community awareness. The new DRR Strategy seeks to unify these efforts into a comprehensive, multi-sectoral plan that can protect lives, livelihoods, and national development gains.
Opening the dialogue, NADMO’s Director-General,Major Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon (Rtd), soberly acknowledged how: “Communities continue to face floods, coastal erosion, fire outbreaks, epidemics, and the ever-increasing impacts of climate change,” noting that “these hazards undermine livelihoods, disrupt education and health services, and weaken local development.”
Therefore, he declared that “disaster risk reduction can no longer be treated as a peripheral concern but must be at the centre of national planning and local governance.”
Major Dr. Kuyon emphasised that Ghana must move beyond reactive disaster response toward proactive risk reduction. He pointed to Senegal’s national DRR strategy as a model, demonstrating how resilient infrastructure and community-driven approaches can transform vulnerability into strength.
The Economics of preparedness and human cost of disasters
Highlighting the economic case for resilience, FAO’s Interim Representative to Ghana, Priya Gujadhur, stated: “For every dollar invested in anticipatory action, there is a return of up to seven dollars in avoided losses and increased production.”
She explained that agriculture, which absorbs up to 80 percent of drought impacts in developing countries, is particularly vulnerable, adding that the May 2024 extended dry spell in the north is a stark reminder of the need for preparedness, especially as climate change is intensifying hazards such as droughts, floods, tidal waves, and wildfires.
Ms. Gujadhur pledged FAO’s support to NADMO to establish a National Technical Working Group on Early Warning and Anticipatory Action, aimed at harmonising approaches and ensuring that early warning information translates into timely, effective measures.
Testimonies shared in other forums across the country underscore the profound human cost of disasters. Farmers from Talensi District in the Upper East Region, have had their crops and homes repeatedly destroyed whenever floods occur from the White Volta Basin and water releases from Burkina Faso’s Bagre Dam.
“When heavy rain and dam releases occur at the same time, rivers overflow and nearby farms and homes become flooded,” explained one community leader during a workshop in Tamale.
In Mepe, Volta Region, residents recounted the catastrophic floods of 2023-2025. “We have never seen anything like this before. The water took everything: our houses, our farms, even the graves of our ancestors,” said one community member.
The floods displaced thousands and highlighted the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and coordinated response systems.
Meanwhile, in Bawku West District, farmers in villages like Timonde spoke of droughts that stretch for weeks during a season when rains were expected. “When drought happens here, it can last longer and cause more damage. Our crops fail, and our children go hungry,” a farmer said in an interview.
These voices point to why the proposed DRR Strategy must go beyond technical frameworks to address the lived realities of ordinary Ghanaians.
Building Resilience from the Ground Up
As the Accra dialogue progressed, the conversation shifted from policy frameworks to the everyday realities of resilience. Participants painted vivid pictures of what disaster risk reduction must look like in practice.
Officials spoke of the urgent need to enforce land-use planning laws. Too often, homes and businesses spring up in flood-prone zones, leaving families exposed to devastation when the rainy season comes.
“We cannot continue to allow haphazard development in areas we know are disaster-susceptible,” urged the Greater Accra Regional Director of NADMO, Dennis Adjannor Nartey. His words conveyed the burden of countless communities who have seen their streets transformed into rivers overnight.
Others emphasised the importance of infrastructure. Drainage systems, they argued, are not just engineering projects but lifelines for urban residents. Without them, storm water overwhelms neighborhoods, destroying property and livelihoods. Investment in flood control, participants agreed, is as much about protecting the economy as it is about saving lives.
Funding emerged as another critical theme. Director of Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction at NADMO,Charlotte Norman, called for dedicated budget lines for DRR activities across all levels of government.
“Resilience cannot be built on ad hoc allocations. We need consistent, predictable financing to plan and act effectively,” she said.
Yet resilience is not only about laws and budgets. It is also about people. Several speakers highlighted the need for nationwide awareness campaigns to reach the grassroots. In villages and towns, where early warning systems may not yet penetrate, community education can make the difference between preparedness and panic.
“Public awareness and grassroots resilience are the bedrock of effective disaster preparedness,” Ms. Norman added, stressing that local knowledge and participation must be central to the strategy.
The discussions resulted in a clear vision of pursuing resilience built from the ground up, combining strong institutions with empowered communities. It is not only a narrative of drains and budgets, but also of families who understand the risks they face and are empowered to act before disaster strikes.
Towards a Unified Framework and the bigger picture
FAO Resilience Specialist Dominique Reumkens confirmed that a drafting team has already been established, with a roadmap and situational analysis underway. Existing studies and reports will provide evidence for the strategy, while stakeholder consultations will continue throughout the drafting process.
“Although substantial groundwork has been undertaken, Ghana still lacks a single comprehensive, multisectoral strategy developed through an inclusive process. This effort will fill that gap,” he explained.
Ghana’s vulnerability is not unique. Across Africa, climate change is amplifying risks, from droughts in the Sahel to floods in East Africa. Yet, as Senegal’s example shows, coordinated national strategies can make a difference. By embedding disaster risk reduction into development planning, countries can safeguard hard-won gains and protect their citizens.
For Ghana, the stakes are high. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, while erratic rainfall jeopardizes food security. Urban sprawl without proper planning has left cities like Accra increasingly exposed to floods. Without decisive action, these risks could erode progress in education, health, and economic growth.
A dialogue more than a technical milestone
The consultation in Accra marked more than a technical milestone. The process reflected a shared recognition that disaster risk reduction cannot be achieved in isolation.
As Ghana confronts rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and more frequent extreme events, the DRR Strategy is expected to serve as a cornerstone for safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and national development gains. More than a policy document, it represents a commitment to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience-building.
For farmers in Talensi and Bawku West, and for residents of Mepe and Agbozume, the strategy offers hope that their struggles will not be in vain and that the next flood or drought will not wipe away their livelihoods. For policymakers, it is a chance to integrate resilience into the nation’s development journey. And for Ghana as a whole, it is an opportunity to begin a bold, coordinated path toward a safer, more sustainable future.
By Ama Kudom-Agyemang