Dr. Patrick Nomo, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, stated that the West African coast was facing significant environmental challenges, with the most pressing issue being the alarming rate of erosion.
He noted that in Ghana, coastal erosion occurred at a rate of 2 to 5 meters annually, with some areas experiencing up to 17 meters of erosion per year.

"This severe degradation is further compounded by frequent flooding due to high storm tides which directly result from rising sea levels induced by climate change," he said.

Dr. Nomo stressed that coastal disasters posed a serious threat to the fiscal landscape and destabilized coastal communities, impacting their socio-economic structure.
It is estimated that each year, around 500,000 people in Africa are affected by intensified coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution.

He emphasized that the main objective of the WACA Programme was to address coastal erosion, flooding, pollution, and ecosystem vulnerability on both national and regional levels.

The programme aims to foster transformational and sustainable improvements in coastal zone management by coordinating the efforts of participating countries.

With a multifaceted approach, WACA seeks to enhance the resilience of communities and regions along coastal West Africa, turning complex development challenges into actionable priorities through technical, financial support, and collaborative dialogue.

"This mobilizes leadership at the national level to effectively advance concrete investment projects, and at the regional level, create a dynamic space for coastal countries and partners to share knowledge and expertise and improve their access to finance.

"This coordination helps set common priorities and harmonize policies for cross-border investments," Dr. Nomo said.

Dr. Nomo called for a revision of the current structure of individual institutions responsible for coastal zone management, noting that these institutions often lack the capacity to effectively integrate coastal issues into national policies and planning.

He emphasized that the success of the WACA programme would demonstrate the collective commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development, stating, "As we implement the WACA programme, let us remember that our work is not just about addressing environmental issues but about securing a sustainable future for our children and generations to come."

Mr. Henry Bortey Otchwemah, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, explained that the WACA programme aimed to raise awareness about coastal erosion and combat its effects.

He pointed out that many coastal communities were struggling with erosion, exacerbated by agricultural practices.

Mr. Otchwemah stressed that entire livelihoods were being lost due to coastal erosion, with some communities disappearing entirely.

"In certain areas, entire communities have vanished-homes, playgrounds, cemeteries, places of worship, and even shrines are all gone because of coastal erosion.

"When you compound the effects across the coast and you do the costings, you see that that's a lot of money that people are losing. And this is part of the reason why we are raising a fight against coastal erosion," he said.

The WACA programme operates on two levels: the programme level, which includes nine countries-Senegal, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe-and the project level, which is country-specific.

"At the programme level, we have the first phase, which involves six countries excluding Ghana, and the second phase, which includes Ghana," Mr. Otchwemah explained.
He added that the steering committee meeting, held at the programme level, was designed for ministers and project coordinators from participating countries to provide updates on the implementation of the programme, discuss the way forward, address challenges, and explore solutions to those issues.

Dr. Mahamadou Gado, Commissioner of the West Africa Economic and Monitoring Union, stressed the importance of protecting and sustaining coastal communities to ensure their security and prosperity, an objective that WACA had been dedicated to since 2018.

He noted that the meeting's purpose was to reinforce collaboration at both national and regional levels and to assess the progress of the programme.

Dr. Gado commended the participating countries for their dedication and expertise, which are critical to the success of the programme.
He also praised Ghana for hosting the meeting and encouraged Ghanaians to remain actively engaged in the programme until the issue of coastal erosion was resolved.