The Deputy Director at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Stella Okoh, has cautioned that Ghana will continue to experience the effects of climate change even if emissions were halted immediately, stressing the urgent need for adaptation measures.

Speaking on JoyNews on Monday, March 30, Mrs Okoh explained that current climate impacts are the result of years of accumulated emissions, making adaptation a critical national priority.

“Even today if you stop emissions, it doesn't mean that you are not going to experience the impact that climate change brings to us because what we are experiencing today didn't start today,” she said.

Her comments come as Ghana intensifies efforts under its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), a long-term strategy designed to help the country manage climate risks and build resilience across key sectors.

Linking directly to her caution, Mrs Okoh revealed that Ghana officially launched its National Adaptation Plan in December last year, describing it as a “costed plan” that outlines specific priority actions and the financial resources required to implement them.

According to her, the plan goes beyond policy intentions by assigning clear costs to each intervention, enabling better planning and coordination across sectors.

The NAP focuses on five key areas at the national level water resources, agriculture, ecosystems and biodiversity, urban development, and health. She noted that gender considerations have been integrated across all sectors as a cross-cutting priority.

In addition, she highlighted efforts to ensure inclusivity, particularly through the involvement of young people and civil society organisations. A youth-led strategy has already been developed as part of the adaptation planning process.

“At the sector level, we have conducted climate risk and vulnerability assessments… and combined scientific data with indigenous knowledge from communities,” she explained.

Beyond the national framework, implementation is also taking place at the district level. Mrs Okoh disclosed that 39 districts have so far undergone climate risk assessments, helping local authorities identify their specific vulnerabilities and develop targeted adaptation strategies.

While the initial project covered only 10 districts, she said support from development partners has significantly expanded the scope. Organisations such as WaterAid, the United Nations Development Capital Fund (UNCDF), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and others have contributed to extending the programme.

These assessments, she noted, allow districts to clearly understand their climate risk profiles and prioritise practical solutions, from flood control measures to climate-smart agriculture.

The National Adaptation Plan framework, developed under the United Nations system, is aimed at helping countries like Ghana shift from short-term climate responses to long-term resilience planning. It integrates climate considerations into national development, ensuring infrastructure and policies are designed to withstand future environmental conditions.

In Ghana’s context, this includes promoting drought-resistant crops, improving urban drainage systems, and strengthening infrastructure to cope with extreme weather events.

Mrs Okoh emphasised that climate action must become a core part of national development planning, not an afterthought, as the country prepares for increasingly complex environmental challenges.