The Effects of Change in Climatic Conditions on Agriculture in Ghana: A Review

Authors

  • Emmanuel Plas Otwe Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • Andrews Danquah Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • Daniel Sakyi Agyirifo Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • Clement Napo Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ajcs.2813

Keywords:

Climatic Conditions, Agriculture, Drought, Economy, Economic Development

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this review is to examine the effect of change in climatic conditions on Ghana’s agriculture, focusing on how changing climatic conditions affect agricultural productivity, the economic implications for the sector, and the effectiveness of governmental policies designed to mitigate these impacts.

Materials and Methods: The review synthesizes up-to-date work done on changes in climatic conditions in the contextual setting of Ghana. It explores various data sources, including peer-reviewed journals, government reports, and climate assessments, to analyze the situation at hand. The study also evaluates the pennyworth of agriculture to the economy of Ghana and examines policy responses.

Findings: The review identifies that climate change has brought about significant variability so far as weather patterns are concerned, resulting in decreased agricultural productivity, decreased food security, and economic instability in the sector being discussed. The analysis highlights that while Ghana's economy hinges on the agricultural sector, its defenselessness of changes in climatic conditions poses a significant challenge to economic sustainability.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The findings will add deep insight to the effect of changes in climatic conditions in tropical agricultural contexts, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies that are context-specific. It also adds to the discourse on sustainable agricultural practices within the framework of climate resilience. For practitioners, this study underscores the urgency of embracing climate-smart agricultural norms, improving water management, and diversifying crops to enhance resilience. The findings also suggest the need for capacity building among farmers to be receptive to climate-related challenges. The review advocates for a robust inculcation of climate change adaptation strategies into national agricultural policies. It calls for increased governmental support for research and development, improved availability of climate data for farmers, as well as the creation of policies that promote sustainable land use and resource management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adger, W. N. (2006). Vulnerability. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 268–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.02.006

Adger, W. N., Agrawala, S., Mirza, M. M. Q., Conde, C., O’Brien, K., Pulhin, J., Pulwarty, R., Smit, B., & Takahashi, K. (2007). Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity. In M. L. Parry, O. F. Canziani, J. Palutikof, P. J. van der Linden & C. E. Hanson (Eds.), Climate change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability (pp. 717–743). Cambridge University Press.

Adimassu, Z., Mul, M., & Owusu, A. (2024). Intra-seasonal rainfall variability and crop yield in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(11), 29249-29268.

Afele, J. T., Agbenyega, O., Barnes, V. R., Amisah, S., Acheampong, E., Owusu, V., ... & Danquah, E. (2024). Understanding and addressing climate change impacts on cocoa farming in Ghana. Environmental Challenges, 14, 100823.

Antwi-Agyei, P., Dougill, A. J., & Stringer, L. C. (2020). Adaptation to climate change in semi-arid Ghana: Implications for climate services development. Climate Services, 17, 100109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2019.100109

Antwi-Agyei, P., Dougill, A. J., Doku-Marfo, J., & Abaidoo, R. C. (2021). Understanding climate services for enhancing resilient agricultural systems in Anglophone West Africa: The case of Ghana. Climate Services, 22, 100218.

Asante, F. A., Amuakwa-Mensah, F., & Boakye, D. (2017). Climate change and variability in Ghana: Stocktaking. Climate, 5(2), 25.

Awuni, S., Adarkwah, F., Ofori, B. D., Purwestri, R. C., Bernal, D. C. H., & Hajek, M. (2023). Managing the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in Ghana. Heliyon, 9(5).

Baffour-Ata, F., Amenga-Etego, R., & Naab, J. B. (2022). Climate information services available to farming households in northern Ghana. Weather, Climate, and Society, 14(2), 313–328. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-21-0075.1

Berkes, F., Colding, J., & Folke, C. (Eds.). (2003). Navigating social-ecological systems: Building resilience for complexity and change. Cambridge University Press.

Bonsu, P. O., Mensah, R. O., & Frimpong, A. (2022). The impact of climate variability on agricultural food crop production and output: the case of some selected communities in Offinso South District of Ghana.

Diao, X., Silver, J., & Takeshima, H. (2021). Agriculture and adaptation to climate change in Ghana: Impacts and investment options (IFPRI Discussion Paper 02026). International Food Policy Research Institute.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2022). Ghana’s Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC. EPA Ghana.

Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). National climate change report: Climate trends and scenarios for Ghana. EPA Ghana.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2023). FAOSTAT statistical database: Ghana country profile. FAO. https://www.fao.org/faostat/

Ghana Statistical Service. (2023). Rebased 2022 Annual GDP Bulletin. Accra: Ghana Statistical Service.

Gyamerah, S. A., Owusu, V., & Kwakye, S. O. (2024). Marginal Impact of climate variability on crop yields in Ghana. Scientific African, 25, e02314.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (H.-O. Pörtner et al., Eds.). Cambridge University Press. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/

Kwakye, J. (2023). Understanding Agriculturists' Perception and Adaptation to the Current Climate Patterns in Jaman South Municipality, Ghana. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13(10), 2742-2755.

Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (mf md). (2013). Ghana Climate Change Policy. Government of Ghana.

Naazie, G. K., Agyemang, I., & Tampah-Naah, A. M. (2024). Characterization of urban agriculture and farmers’ climate change adaptation: the case of Urban Wa, Ghana. Discover Sustainability, 5(1), 58.

National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS). (2010). Ghana National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2010–2020. Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology

Roberts, D. (2015). City action for global environmental change: assessment and case study of Durban, South Africa. In The Routledge Handbook of Urbanization and Global Environmental Change (pp. 534-548). Routledge.

Sedegah, D. D., Akagbor, M. A., Bernice, P., Kwarteng-Donkor, B. I. A. O., & Joel, P. J. (2023). Exploring the praxes of indigenous and experiential knowledge of climate change on peasant farmers in Ghana. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 18(10), 70-80.

Smit, B., & Wandel, J. (2006). Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 282-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.03.008

Turner, B. L., Kasperson, R. E., Matson, P. A., McCarthy, J. J., Corell, R. W., Christensen, L., ... & Schiller, A. (2003). A framework for vulnerability analysis in sustainability science. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences, 100(14), 8074-8079.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2022). Ghana national adaptation plan and climate projections. UNFCCC Secretariat.

Wood, S. A., Tirado, C., & Rincón, L. M. (2021). Climate change and agriculture: Global and regional impacts. World Bank Group Agriculture and Rural Development Discussion Paper, 31.

World Bank & Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). (2021). Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan for Ghana. World Bank. https://documents.worldbank.org/

World Bank. (2018). World Bank Annual Report 2018.

Yamba, E. I., Aryee, J. N., Quansah, E., Davies, P., Wemegah, C. S., Osei, M. A., ... & Amekudzi, L. K. (2023). Revisiting the agro-climatic zones of Ghana: A re-classification in conformity with climate change and variability. PLoS Climate, 2(1), e0000023.

Yeleliere, E., Akosah, C., & Mensah, S. (2023). Impacts of climate change on the yields of leguminous and cereal crops in the Guinea-Savanna zone of Ghana. Agricultural Systems, 205, 103-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103118

Downloads

Published

2025-12-11

How to Cite

Otwe, E. P., Danquah, A., Agyirifo, D. S., & Napo, C. (2025). The Effects of Change in Climatic Conditions on Agriculture in Ghana: A Review. American Journal of Climatic Studies, 5(1), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajcs.2813

Issue

Section

Articles