Increasingly erratic weather patterns impact the livelihoods of rural communities in Ghana. The landscape has been reshaped by drought, unpredictable rainfall, and coastal erosion. For these vulnerable communities, climate change is not merely a scientific fact but a daily battle for survival. Stories of climate-induced migrations span from the vast Savannah to Ghana’s coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. Most of the migrants finally end up in Accra, a sprawling city where they seek refuge, although their hope for a better life is often met with unforeseen challenges as dreams of economic stability clash with harsh urban realities.

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Climate impacts on communities in Ghana

On a hot sunny day in Madina Market, Accra, Daniel from Builsa in the Upper West region of Ghana, recalls how the shift in rainfall pattern has affected his farming. “I’m a cereal farmer,” he explains. “In the past, I could predict my planting season and my harvesting period. Now, I find it difficult to predict the exact timing of the rain. Sometimes, excess rain causes flooding, sometimes the lack of rain causes dry spells. I’m not getting enough yield, so now I’m doing menial jobs here to feed myself and support my family in the village.” Daniel’s story is one of countless experiences of farmers from Ghana’s northern regions, where the changing climate is making agriculture less attractive with each passing season.

Down south, in the coastal town of Chorkor, residents and fishermen face a different but equally disheartening challenge. Coastal erosion and rising sea levels have swallowed up the land and destroyed houses at an alarming rate. Joshua, a resident who has stayed in the community over the past two decades, points to the shrinking shorelines: “I recall that some years back, our shore was full of sheds that served as resting places for the fishermen. They mended their nets and repaired their boats here, but the encroaching sea has now submerged the sheds and destroyed the houses along the shoreline. It’s not safe anymore.” He elaborates further: “This place was also a business center for petty traders who sell their wares to the fishermen, as well as the women who come to shore to buy fresh fish. Both the fishermen and these women have lost their business.” Joshua, like many other residents, now contemplates leaving the coast altogether to seek income opportunities inland.

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Climate impacts on livelihoods: Between the savannah and the sea

The broad and varied consequences of climate change are visible in the contrasting climate change impacts on the savannah and coastal regions. Families in the northern regions, the largest agricultural zone in Ghana, are finding ways to deal with the reality of climate change. Many unproductive lands are now abandoned, leaving women and children to suffer the brunt of these changes.

In the Madina market in Accra, Aisha, a migrant from Kundugu, shares her story. “I just completed my senior high school and have migrated to Accra in search of a job. My parents can no longer support me financially since their farming business is not lucrative anymore due to the changing weather conditions. We have dams and borehole standpipes in the community that support our farms and household chores, but they dry up during the dry season, leaving community members in difficult situations. I am doing menial jobs here to support my family back home and support my educational career.”

At the same time, along the coast, similar stories take place in a different environment. Apart from the fishermen in these coastal communities, other facilities that serve the community and provide income for families are also affected. During a field visit to Jamestown, Vincent, a headteacher facing hardships from coastal erosion, explains how this is affecting him: “My property was far away from the shoreline, but now the encroaching sea is getting closer. Although I have put measures in place, my school enrollment is declining. I may have to look for another place to relocate my school.”

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Migration as a perceived solution

The thought of moving to Accra in search of a better livelihood offers hope to many migrants in Ghana. The bustling city with its opportunities attracts able young migrants from rural communities every year. For them, Accra is a place where they can escape the hardships of rural life and build a bright future. However, the ambition of finding a new future often collides with reality.

On a busy street in Madina Zongo Junction, Ama, a migrant from Hamile, has this to say: “I’m in Accra with my two children in search of a better livelihood. My farm is no longer giving me the needed yield due to unfavorable weather conditions." While finding out if her expectation had been met, her facial expression changed. “I earn only a little from my work as a head potter to take care of my family here as well as back home. I haven’t seen any significant change to our lives.”

Many migrants, like Ama, work in the informal sector, earning just enough to cover their rent in an informal settlement while remaining unable to send money back home to their families. Apart from living in slum areas, there is pressure on city infrastructure, which often does not support the influx of migrants. For much of the informal housing that migrants stay in, the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is limited.

As people from rural communities move to bigger cities in search of jobs, close social ties are being severed, often with devastating impacts for those left behind. In Grace’s hometown, Keta, she notes how migration has taken the people away: “Due to the destructive tidal waves, the majority of abled youth have migrated to Accra and other places to work. Usually, rural communities are left abandoned, leaving the most vulnerable group to fend for themselves.”

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Learning from the stories

The stories shared by migrants from the north and coastal community residents paint a complex picture. The hope of migrating often results in unpredicted challenges and untold stories. While the influx of young migrants fills cities like Accra, rural communities, where most of the agricultural production takes place, are struggling to get the young labor force to remain.

No single approach will be able to solve these challenges. The complexity of climate-related migration issues in Ghana calls for a multifaceted approach, including a prioritization of migration issues in public budgetary allocations, which could strengthen investment in climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. This would improve conditions in rural areas and not encourage a higher rate of migration. Furthermore, farmers in the northern regions should be supported with adaptation strategies like all-year-round solar-powered irrigation dams, drought-resilient crops, and frequent education on how best to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Adaptation strategies that help to cope with rising sea levels and facilitate the diversification of livelihoods should also be prioritized to keep able youth in coastal communities. For those who still prefer to migrate, infrastructure in urban areas should be designed to accommodate them and ensure good and safe living conditions.

Migration should be a choice, not a necessity. The experience of people like Daniel, Joshua, Aisha, Vincent, Ama, and Grace highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to support those who leave as well as those who remain. Only through a comprehensive and inclusive strategy can Ghana hope to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate-related human mobility in the country.

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A case study on L&D and climate-related human mobility in Ghana is available on our knowledge hub through a case study brief and a two-page primer. To further illustrate the case study, SLYCAN Trust in collaboration with its country partners also created a photography exhibition, which was showcased on the sidelines of the UNFCCC climate negotiations in 2023 and is available online here.