Civil society organisations working in Ghana’s coastal communities have warned that the continued delay in implementing the West Africa Coastal Areas Program (WACA) project could have severe national consequences if urgent action is not taken.

The Coastal Civil Society Organisations Forum (CCF), in a press statement issued on Wednesday, expressed deep concern that a project once regarded as a transformative intervention to protect vulnerable coastal communities has stalled in Ghana, leaving thousands exposed to worsening tidal waves and coastal erosion.

According to the group, the WACA initiative was developed following a request by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) to develop a Multi-Sector Investment Plan aimed at strengthening coastal resilience.

The programme, supported by the World Bank, is a regional initiative designed to help West African countries collectively address coastal erosion, flooding and pollution challenges that individual countries cannot effectively tackle on their own.

The CCF noted that the project was developed through extensive consultations with coastal communities, traditional authorities, civil society groups, local governments and other stakeholders across affected regions.

Its core objective, the group said, is to reduce the vulnerability of coastal populations by investing in resilience infrastructure and promoting regional cooperation to manage shared coastal risks.

According to the forum, chiefs and coastal residents in the Volta Region initially welcomed the project as a major opportunity to protect their communities from the growing threat of tidal waves.

Traditional leaders from the region even sponsored a learning visit to Togo to study the successful implementation of similar WACA interventions.

The CCF also facilitated a regional exchange tour to Benin and Togo, bringing together community leaders, non-governmental organisations, local government officials, faith-based groups, gender advocates, and members of the media.

According to the group, the visits provided firsthand evidence of coastal resilience infrastructure in those countries that are helping to protect communities from erosion and flooding.

However, the forum says implementation of the project in Ghana appears to have stalled since 2025.

Meanwhile, tidal waves continue to cause widespread destruction along parts of Ghana’s coastline.

The group said homes have been washed away, livelihoods destroyed and families displaced, while cultural heritage sites in several coastal communities continue to erode.

“The destruction is not theoretical it is visible, painful and ongoing,” the statement said.

The forum noted that each tidal surge serves as a reminder that neighbouring countries have begun implementing solutions under the WACA programme while Ghanaian communities remain exposed.

While acknowledging that government planning processes may encounter challenges, the CCF stressed that the human cost of prolonged delay is unacceptable.

It warned that continued inaction could have serious socio-economic, cultural and political consequences for the country.

According to the forum, when Ghana’s Parliament approved the country’s participation in the WACA initiative, it endorsed not only infrastructure development but also a comprehensive resilience framework intended to protect thousands of citizens whose homes and livelihoods are under constant threat.

The CCF therefore called on the government to immediately reactivate and fast-track the implementation of the WACA project.

The group also urged authorities to provide urgent relief and temporary protective measures for severely affected coastal communities.

In addition, it called for transparent communication on the status, financing arrangements and timelines of the project, as well as stronger coordination among national, regional and local institutions responsible for coastal management.

The forum emphasized that the WACA programme was built on participatory engagement with communities and stakeholders, reflecting the voices and aspirations of coastal citizens.

It warned that continued delays risk deepening vulnerability in affected areas and could undermine public trust in inclusive governance processes.

The statement was signed by Noble Wadzah, Coordinator of the Coastal CSOs Forum, and Ken Kinney, whose contact details were provided in the release. The forum reaffirmed its commitment to work with government and development partners to ensure transparency, accountability, and community participation in the project.

The time for action is now,” the statement said, warning that further delay would not only inconvenience coastal communities but could worsen what it described as a preventable disaster.