Awareness and vulnerability to climate change among coastal communities in ghana

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY SARFO ISAAC AWARENESS AND VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF DANSOMAN IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION MASTER THESIS KHANH HOA, 2018 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY SARFO ISAAC AWARENESS AND VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF DANSOMAN IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION MASTER THESIS Marine Ecosystem Management and Climate Change Major Topic allocation Decision Decision on establishing the Committee: Defense date: Supervisors: Professor Peter Arbo Dr Le Kim Long Chairman: Prof Nguyen Thi Kim Anh Faculty of Graduate Studies: Hoang Ha Giang KHANH HOA – 2018 03-10 June, 2018 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this master thesis is the result of research work carried out by myself under this Norhed master’s degree training program at Nha Trang University in collaboration with University of Tromso (The arctic University of Norway), University of Bergen in Norway and University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, within the confines of the Graduate School, Department of Environment, fisheries and Biotechnology under the supervision of Professor Peter Arbo (University of Tromso, Norway) and Dr Le Kim Long (Nha Trang University, Vietnam) Except for references cited, which serve as sources of secondary information (for which I have duly acknowledged), it is not a reproduction in part, or in whole of any work ever presented for the award of a degree I am therefore responsible for any omissions, errors of reasons and presentation of due facts ………Date 02 Month May year 2018 Sarfo Isaac I DEDICATION Glory and thanks be to God Almighty! This thesis is dedicated to my lovely and supportive father, Mr Isaac Akwasi Annor whose financial support, guidance, care and motivation saw me through up to this level II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My sincerest appreciation, with all humility, goes to all and sundry who contributed to making this masters research a reality With a joyful heart, wish to give special thanks to my father, Mr Isaac Akwasi Annor, who supported me whole heartedly towards the accomplishment of this academic goal Having braved all odds, wish to ask for God’s blessings for my father and other family members who made this a reality I wish to put on record the immense help I received from both Universities, thus, University of Tromso, Norway and Nha Trang University, Vietnam whose training and financial support (Norhed/Norad) broadened my scope of knowledge To my good friends, Mr Henry Otchwemah Bortey, Mr George Squire and Mr Emmanuel Kedjanyi for their support during the course of data collection and analysis I am also grateful to my unflagging lecturers at NTU and the supervisory team, Professor Peter Arbo (University of Tromso, Norway) and Dr Le Kim Long (Nha Trang University, Vietnam) who patiently and meticulously, supervised this work and without whose comments and guidance, this study would not have been possible I wish to express my utmost gratitude to Dr Eric Twum (CEO of Institute of Green Growth Solutions, Ghana), Dr Edward Nunoo (Head of Department, Environment & Development Studies, Central University, Ghana) and Mrs Memuna Mattah (Lecturer, Department of Environment & Development Studies, Central University, Ghana) for their guidance and motivation To Ablekuma West District Assembly, National Disaster & Management Organization, Environmental Protection Agency, Institute of Green Growth Solutions, Premix Fuel Dealers Association in Dansoman as well as Dansoman Traditional council I say kudos …………… Date 02 Month May Sarfo Isaac III Year 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION I DEDICATION II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT III TABLE OF CONTENTS IV LIST OF TABLES VIII LIST OF FIGURES IX LIST OF PLATES X LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XI ABSTRACT XIII CHAPTER ONE 1.1 Background 1.2 Research Problem 1.3 Aim of the Study 1.4 Objectives of the study 1.4.1 1.5 Research Questions Justification of the study CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Climate Change: A Global Point of View 2.2 Synthesis of IPCC’s fifth Assessment report 2.2.1 Global Climate Change Projections: Expectations 2.2.2 Climate Change responses 2.2.3 Climate Change Awareness at the Global Level 10 2.2.4 African States Climate Change Learning Action plans 11 2.3 Determinants of Climate Vulnerability 12 2.4 Climate change and coastal communities 14 IV 2.4.1 Physical changes 14 2.4.2 Ecosystem and bio-diversity changes 15 2.4.3 Socio-economic changes 15 2.4.4 Responses to Climate Change hazards 16 2.5 Social Vulnerability & Social Capital 16 2.5.1 Social vulnerability 16 2.5.2 Concept of Social Capital 18 2.6 Strategies to reduce Climate risks and vulnerability 19 2.6.1 Concept of Adaptation 20 2.6.2 Traditional Knowledge: an adaptive capacity tool 22 2.7 2.7.1 Measuring Effectiveness and sustainability of Climate Change adaptive strategies 22 The no regret strategy approach 22 2.7.1.1 Case of Nador and Berkane in Morocco 23 2.8 Constraints to Adaptation 24 2.8.1 Physical Constraints 25 2.8.2 Economic and Financial Constraints 26 2.8.3 Social and cultural constraints 26 2.8.4 Governance and Institutional Constraints 27 2.8.5 Biological/Ecological Constraints 28 CHAPTER THREE 31 GENERAL METHODOLOGY AND DATA 31 3.1 Research Strategy 31 3.1.1 Qualitative research 31 3.1.2 Quantitative research 32 3.2 Study Design 32 3.3 Source of Data 33 3.3.1 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) 33 3.3.2 Household and Institutions: Questionnaire Interviews 34 3.4 Sampling Size 36 V 3.4.1 Sampling Methodology 39 3.5 Data Analysis and Presentation 40 3.6 Challenges/Limitations of the study 40 CHAPTER FOUR 42 STUDY AREA AND RESPONDENTS 42 4.1 Social and demographic characteristics 42 4.1.1 Greater Accra Region 42 4.1.2 Physical Characteristics of Accra 43 4.1.3 Dansoman 43 4.1.3.1 The Traditional Authority 44 4.1.3.2 The Political Authority (Local Government system) 44 4.2 Social and demographical characteristics of informants 46 CHAPTER FIVE 56 LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE 56 5.1 Climate Awareness and Knowledge 56 5.1.1 Level of Climate Awareness 56 5.1.2 Level of knowledge 59 5.2 Scale of attention and commitment 60 5.3 Potential impacts of climate change in Dansoman 63 5.4 Local adaptation strategies in Dansoman 66 5.4.1 Sea defence systems 68 5.4.2 National Sanitation Day 69 5.4.3 Distribution of waste bins 70 5.4.4 5.5 Awareness creation and capacity building 70 Self-Protective measures initiated by individual households in the study area 71 5.6 Discussion 73 VI CHAPTER SIX 75 EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF LOCAL ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN DANSOMAN 75 6.1 Identified stakeholders 75 6.1.1 Roles of identified stakeholders within the study area 76 6.2 Institutional aid offered to affected communities in the study area-climate hazards 78 6.3 Effectiveness of local climate change adaptation strategies in Dansoman 81 6.4 Reactive and anticipatory measures 85 6.4.1 Short-term (reactive) measures or strategies 85 6.4.2 Long (Anticipatory) term measures 85 6.5 Discussion 89 CHAPTER SEVEN 92 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 92 7.1 Summary and Conclusion 92 7.2 Strengths and weaknesses 94 7.2.1 Strengths 95 7.2.2 Weaknesses 96 7.3 Recommendations 96 REFERENCES 99 APPENDICES A 1.0 APPENDIX I A 1.1 APPENDIX II G PLATES II VII LIST OF TABLES Table4.1 Occupational status of respondents .57 Table5.1Have you heard about Climate change? .61 Table5.2Have you heard about Climate change? 61 Table5.3How did you get to know about Climate change? .62 Table5.4How did you get to know about Climate change? 63 Table5.5How serious is climate change at the global level? 66 Table5.6How serious is climate change at the local level? 67 Table5.7How serious is climate change at the global level? 67 Table5.8How serious is climate change at the local level? 68 Table 5.9 Do you know of any local adaptation strategy initiated by the local assembly or any private entity? .70 Table 5.9.1 Do you know of any local adaptation strategy initiated by the local assembly or any private entity? .71 Table 5.9.2 Some adaptation strategies initiated by the central government through Ablekuma West District Assembly and other private entities in Dansoman………… .72 Table 6.1 Institutional Assistance offered to affected communities in Dansoman… 84 Table 6.2 Case scenario of Nador-Berkane in Morocco and Dansoman in Accra, Ghana 86 Table 6.3 Interventions and other risk-reduction vulnerability strategy check in the study area… 88 Table 6.4 Local residents’ assessment on adequacy of socio-economic parameters in the area 91 Table 6.5Officials’ assessment on adequacy of socio-economic parameters in the area? …………………………………………………………………………… 92 Table 6.6.Local residents’ assessment on the effectiveness of institutions in carrying out their functions 92 Table 6.7.Officials’ assessment on the effectiveness of institutions in carrying out their functions 93 Table 6.8 Local residents’ assessment on effectiveness and sustainability of climate change adaptation strategies in the area 94 Table 6.9 Officials’ assessment on effectiveness and sustainability of climate change adaptation strategies in the area 94 VIII PLATES Plate 3.1 Group Photograph after Focus Group Discussion Plate 3.2.Interviewing the chief of Gbegbeyise unit area in Dansoman Plate 3.3 and Plate 3.4 Interviewing some fishers and local residents in the study area II Plate 3.5 Focus Group Discussion Plate 5.1 Sea Defense System along the coast of Dansoman Source: Field Survey, 2017 JJ Plate 5.2 Sea Defense under extension long the coast of Dansoman Source: Field Survey, 2017 Plate 5.3 Stagnant water resulting from water splashed from the sea behind sea defense Source: Field Survey, 2017.Plate 5.4 and plate 5.5 Households close to the sea along the coast of Dansoman being affected by coastal inundatioN Plate 5.6 Glefe Assembly member in the picture showing how the sea broke down this wall KK Plate 5.7 Image of Chemu lagoon filled with plastic waste close to the coast of Dansoman Plates 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 Images showing some choked Drainage systems in the study area LL ...MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY SARFO ISAAC AWARENESS AND VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF DANSOMAN IN THE GREATER... 2.1 Climate Change: A Global Point of View The purpose is to enhance understanding of climate change in a global context, by defining key concepts relevant to the understanding of climate change. .. these into formal and informal approach in the formulation and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies, climate change education, training and public awareness have become pivotal to