Climate Evidence: Agriculture insurance as lifeline for Ghana’s climate-hit farmers

As climate threats mount, vulnerable Ghanaian farmers need the right protection to weather the storm to sustain production and their livelihoods.

 

After 40 years of tilling the land to farm cocoa as cash crop and vegetables as food crop, Kofi Korankye, a farmer at Ejura in the Ashanti region, says when the weather fails, it becomes discouraging to venture farming.

 

“Some are reluctant to venture farming because it becomes daunting when there is no access to water,” he noted. “For instance, I’m cultivating pepper and garden eggs, aside the cocoa farm, but the source of water which is used to irrigate the farm has dried up. When this happens, there is no joy to continue production, you lose hope”.

 

Kofi’s experience is increasingly common across Ghana’s agricultural belt, where climate change is redefining the rules of farming. Erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and flash floods are pushing smallholder farmers to the brink, undermining food security and threatening rural livelihoods.

 

In recent years, Ghana has witnessed a steady rise in climate-induced agricultural losses. According to data from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, crop yields in certain northern and middle-belt districts have dropped by up to 30% due to unpredictable weather events.

 

"Our farming calendar is broken,” explains Dr. Victor Owusu, a researcher in coastal livelihoods management and agrarian food systems with the Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba. “We’re seeing droughts where rains should be, and floods in harvest season. It’s a vicious cycle.”

 

This instability has eroded the resilience of rural farming households who rely solely on their produce to feed families, repay loans, and save for future seasons.

 

The Space of Agric Insurance

 

Against this backdrop, agricultural insurance is gaining attention as a potential game changer. Specifically, weather-index insurance is offering a beacon of hope. This is a product that pays farmers automatically when certain climate thresholds, like lack of rainfall, are breached.

 

Organizations like the Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool (GAIP), in collaboration with development partners and agri-tech startups have started piloting insurance schemes that cater to smallholder farmers.

 

“Through our efforts, we have helped countless farmers recover from losses, enhance their productivity, and adopt more sustainable farming practices. GAIP’s insurance coverage provides peace of mind, allowing farmers to invest confidently in their operations, knowing that they are protected against unforeseen events,” noted the organization.

 

Rice farmer, Awoyaa, recounts her relief after receiving a payout when torrential rains destroyed her field. "The insurance didn’t bring back my rice, but it helped me replant. I didn’t have to borrow money this time,” she says.

 

The model involves farmers sign up, pay a subsidized premium, sometimes bundled with seeds or fertilizer, and receiving compensation if weather conditions meet the insured criteria.

 

Agricultural economist, Dr. Jonas Osei-Adu, describes insurance cover for farmers as very critical.

 

“With good insurance, you can get funding from the banks,” he said. “When you go to the banks the first thing they look at is risk. So for us to be able to actually unlock capital, agric insurance is very critical”.

 

Despite its potential, agricultural insurance in Ghana remains underutilized. Less than 5% of the country’s farmers are covered. Barriers include lack of awareness, limited digital access, trust issues, and affordability concerns.

 

Dr. Osei-Adu acknowledged the general low insurance penetration in the country but believes with education insurance uptake will improve.

 

“One of the challenges has to do with convincing farmers to pay insurance premiums, but if we are able to educate them to take up insurance, access to capital will be eased to propel our agriculture to another level,” he said.

 

Government and private sector players are increasingly recognizing the strategic role insurance can play in agricultural resilience. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) is collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to develop policies that integrate crop insurance into national agricultural extension services.

 

Reducing risks of farming enterprises

 

Agronomist, Dr. Michael Odenkey Quaye of the Department of Agriculture Science Education at the University of Education, Winneba, says there should be opportunities to reduce the risks of farming enterprises.

 

He says early warning systems must be in place for the meteorological agency to support farmers with accurate weather forecast, while the scientific community looks at breeding seed varieties which are drought resistant and resilient to the harsh weather condition.

 

“These should be incorporated into our farming enterprise so that in case one crop fails, the other will be there to support,” he stated.

 

Other climate smart agronomic practices, such as soil conservation and irrigation should also be promoted.

 

Dr. Osei-Adu shares similar perspective. He believes the insurance should move in tandem with access to good seeds, irrigation and mechanization through partnerships with research institutions and other commercial interest groups.

 

“Agric is a risky area because of the weather and other factors, but once your capacity is enhanced, you’re able to minimize the risk and it becomes a good business.

 

Back in Ejura, farmer Kofi says he would want to sign up for his first insurance policy, though he is cautious.

 

"I’m hoping that with this insurance, if the rains fail, I won’t lose everything,” he says.

 

As Ghana navigates its path through the climate crisis, integrating agricultural insurance into a broader resilience strategy will be key. This includes strengthening farmer cooperatives, improving forecasting systems, supporting women-led agribusinesses, and incentivizing insurers to expand to cover more farmers.

 

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This article is written by Kofi Adu Domfeh as part of a collaborative project between JoyNews, CDKN Ghana, and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Ghana, with funding from the CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.

 

 

Ghana hosts high-level African climate strategy meeting ahead of COP31 and COP32

Ghana hosted a pivotal three-day strategic meeting of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), bringing together UNFCCC National Focal Points, African Lead Coordinators, and key partners to consolidate Africa’s common position ahead of the 31st and 32nd sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, and COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

 

The meeting, held from March 30 to April 1, 2026, marks the first in-person strategic convening under Ghana’s chairmanship of the AGN.

 

It is delivering a practical roadmap to strengthen Africa’s negotiating platform, sharpen continental priorities, and reinforce coordination within the AGN and the broader African three-tier negotiation structure. 

 

Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, welcoming participants, described the meeting as timely and critical.

 

“Africa’s strength in global climate negotiations has always been its unity. At this defining moment, we must reinforce that unity and ensure our collective voice continues to shape outcomes that reflect our realities and aspirations,” she stated.

 

Prof. Klutse underscored that Africa continues to face disproportionate climate impacts despite contributing the least to global emissions, emphasizing that climate action must be anchored in equity, justice, and adequate support.

 

She highlighted key priorities for Africa, including scaled-up and predictable climate finance, enhanced adaptation efforts, capitalization of major UNFCCC funds, and equitable access to technology and capacity-building support.

 

The meeting also recognises a historic milestone for Ghana, as Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah assumes leadership of the AGN—the first time the country has chaired the group since signing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992.

 

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of State at the Office of the President for Climate Change and Sustainability, Baba Issifu Seidu, stressed that the global climate process has entered a critical phase focused on implementation, accountability, and delivery.

 

“Africa must position itself not only as a participant, but as a driver of outcomes across all negotiation tracks,” he said.

 

The Minister outlined priority areas for Africa’s engagement, including advancing the Global Goal on Adaptation with measurable, flexible, and impact-driven indicators; ensuring clarity, adequacy, and accessibility of climate finance under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG); and safeguarding equity within the Mitigation Work Programme, while supporting just transitions, energy access, and economic transformation.

 

He emphasized that climate finance remains a matter of equity and trust, and that without accessible and adequate funding, adaptation and mitigation efforts will fall short.

 

The Strategic Meeting featured both open and closed sessions. The open session focused on partner dialogue and Africa’s engagement in global platforms such as the G20, while subsequent closed sessions drove thematic alignment, develop negotiation instructions, and establish coordination mechanisms for effective follow-through.

 

Participants produced clear decisions, identify outstanding issues, assign responsibilities, and agree on immediate next steps to guide Africa’s climate diplomacy through the 2026–2027 biennium.

 

As Africa prepares to host COP32 in Addis Ababa, the meeting is seen as a critical opportunity for the continent to consolidate its voice and influence global climate outcomes.

 

“The future of Africa will not be defined by negotiations alone, but by how effectively we shape them,” Mr. Seidu noted. “This is the moment for Africa to act with unity, purpose, and resolve.”

 

Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to climate resilience and inclusive development through national frameworks, including adaptation planning and nationally determined contributions, while calling for strengthened regional cooperation.

 

The Government of Ghana and the Environmental Protection Authority expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting will position Africa to engage more effectively and strategically in upcoming global climate negotiations.

 

 According to Augustine Njamshi of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), “Africa cannot afford to treat COP31 and COP32 as routine negotiation cycles. We must see them as strategic turning points. The reality is that we have become very skilled at defending positions. And we now understand, from our many years in these global policy arenas, that positions alone do not alter outcomes. Recent COP decisions highlight the issue. The financial outcome from COP29 fell short of what science, equity and fairness require.”

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Climate Evidence: Sustaining Ghana’s farming glory under climate stress

Climate variability has become one of the most destabilizing forces confronting Ghana’s agriculture sector, which contributes about 20 percent of GDP and employs more than a third of the national workforce.

 

Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells and shifting growing seasons are steadily eroding yields and confidence in farming.

 

According to the Ghana Meteorological Agency and regional climate assessments, average temperatures in Ghana have increased by about 1°C over the past six decades, while rainfall patterns have grown increasingly unpredictable.

 

The World Bank projects that without adaptation, climate change could reduce crop yields in Sub-Saharan Africa by up to 20 percent by 2050.

 

For Ghana’s predominantly rain-fed agricultural system, where less than 3 percent of arable land is under irrigation, the stakes are particularly high.

As harvests become uncertain, young people increasingly turn away from agriculture, perceiving it as high risk and low return.

 

Experts point to an aging agricultural population, a demographic shift that raises urgent sustainability concerns, and insist that reversing agriculture’s decline under climate stress demands bold, coordinated national action.

 

“Unfortunately, if you check our agriculture population, you’ll realize that over 80 percent of our farmers are people who are aged 65 and above; and that is dangerous,” noted Bismark Owusu Nortey, Executive Director of Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana.

 

National labour data consistently show that youth participation in primary agriculture has been declining, even as youth unemployment and underemployment remain pressing concerns.

 

Bismark Nortey says attracting young people into agriculture remains a major hurdle. Beyond access to finance and infrastructure, climate risk looms large.

 

“Now the question is why are we not getting young people actively participating?” he quizzed. “Aside the financing, the infrastructure which is not there, the risk of climate change and the fact that the youth are not able to appreciate and use the available technologies to integrate farming into their system is a big challenge that we need to address.”

 

In Techimantia in the Tano South Municipality of the Ahafo Region, farmer Nana Owusu Debright describes the harsh reality on the ground. When the rains delay, livelihoods stall, and local economies slow.

 

“We are sowing our seed before the rain; so one of the major problems is rainfall. Right now we are waiting for water, if it rains today, none of us the community people will sit at home tomorrow; they will go to farm to sow,” he expressed.

 

His experience reflects broader vulnerability across cocoa, maize, and vegetable-producing belts where rainfall onset and cessation have become less predictable.

 

For agronomist Dr. Michael Odenkey Quaye of the Department of Agriculture Science Education at the University of Education, Winneba, climate change presents both a challenge and an untapped opportunity. Global research increasingly highlights climate-smart agriculture – combining productivity, adaptation and mitigation – as a pathway to resilience.

 

He argues that innovation, particularly climate-smart solutions, could open new pathways for youth participation.

 

“People can set up businesses that produces biochar, which is technically charcoal that can be used as soil amendment; something we can put into the soil and it improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil, increases yield. So as a climate intervention, biochar can be an entrepreneurial opportunity for young people,” said Dr. Odenkey Quaye.

 

Biochar, promoted in several climate adaptation frameworks, enhances soil fertility while sequestering carbon, aligning productivity with environmental sustainability.

 

But transformation, he insists, will require deliberate policy shifts, making agriculture profitable and future-ready. That includes strengthening school curricula to integrate agri-entrepreneurship, improving access to land and farm inputs, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and guaranteeing markets for produce.

 

Agricultural economist, Dr. Jonas Osei-Adu, believes youth inclusion is possible, but only if climate-smart agriculture policies move beyond rhetoric. Ghana has launched several initiatives, including the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and green economy strategies, yet implementation gaps persist.

 

“It’s about risk. If the youth goes for a loan [to venture farming] and has to depend on rain, how would he or she be motivated?” he quizzed. “We need to move away from rain fed agriculture to irrigation.”

 

Expanding irrigation coverage, experts argue, would significantly reduce climate risk exposure and improve creditworthiness for young farmers.

 

Opportunities, however, extend far beyond tilling the soil, says Electronic and Communication Engineer Dr. Kwame Onwona-Simpe. Across Africa, digital agriculture is projected to become a multi-billion-dollar industry, driven by precision farming tools, climate advisory services, remote sensing, drone technology and agribusiness platforms.

 

He points to technology-driven roles across the agriculture value chain, from precision farming to climate monitoring systems, as viable entry points for young professionals.

 

“The agriculture value chain is wide and almost every skill in visible. Today we are having youth unemployment, but everybody can be captured in the agriculture sector and that could save us the unemployment and other social vices,” he said.

 

As climate stress intensifies, the future of Ghana’s agriculture hinges not only on rainfall patterns, but on policy clarity, innovation, risk-sharing mechanisms and the courage to reposition farming as a resilient and profitable enterprise for the next generation.

 

Bismark Nortey cautions that youth engagement will require structured, strategic support to scale climate-smart technologies and ensure sustainability.

 

“If you look at the policy space, we have a lot of policy guidelines, including the Green Jobs Strategy and the Youth Employment strategy. All these policy documents clearly state what should be done to integrate climate smart technologies, but unfortunately, the youth are not even aware; there is no policy space for then to go and find solace or support in training, capacity and linkage to opportunity for them.

 

“We could create a hub, like a resource hub, where these youth would be able to go there and seek information, seek the right channels that they can use to expand the work that they are doing,” he suggested.

 

Sustaining Ghana’s farming glory under climate stress will therefore require more than hope for rainfall. It demands investment in irrigation, innovation ecosystems, accessible finance, and structured youth engagement, turning climate risk into opportunity and securing the future of food production.

 

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This article is written by Kofi Adu Domfeh as part of a collaborative project between JoyNews, CDKN Ghana, and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Ghana, with funding from the CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.

Kofi Adu Domfeh honoured with Excellence in Climate Journalism and Advocacy Award

Multimedia journalist and Climate Reality Leader, Kofi Adu Domfeh, has been honoured with the Excellence in Climate Journalism and Advocacy Award.

 

He was among several distinguished Ghanaians recognised at the 3rd Edition of the Ghana Development Awards 2026, held in Accra and organised by The Business Executive Group.

 

The citation accompanying the award commended Domfeh “for exceptional leadership, innovation, partnership and enduring commitment to advancing Ghana’s development, inspiring resilience, supporting socio-economic recovery, and sustaining national progress.”

 

Domfeh has dedicated more than 15 years to reporting on environmental sustainability and climate change. A two-time winner of the Africa Climate Change and Environmental Reporting Awards (ACCER), his journalism across the continent has amplified the realities of climate change while influencing policy discussions on resilience-building through adaptation and mitigation strategies. His work has also highlighted emerging opportunities in climate solutions.

 

Through collaborations with organisations such as the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change, and the African Union’s TerrAfrica initiative, Domfeh has contributed to strengthening Africa’s climate narrative, advocating for greater recognition of the continent’s vulnerabilities and the need for developed nations to honour commitments on climate finance.

 

Currently, he serves as Head of the Science and Environment Desk at JoyNews, where he has been instrumental in launching and driving specialised programmes including the Climate Focus and Climate Evidence series. As a News Editor with the Multimedia Group on Luv FM and Nhyira FM, he leads teams in producing impactful environmental stories, particularly investigations into the devastation caused by illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, on forests, water bodies, land and biodiversity.

 

Domfeh also serves as Ghana Bureau Chief for Africa Climate Reports, a Pan-African online magazine dedicated to environmental sustainability and climate reporting.

 

He is a founding member of the Pan-African Media Alliance on Climate Change (PAMACC) and an active participant in the Africa Editors Climate Forum, where he contributes to strengthening climate journalism across the continent.

 

Beyond journalism, Domfeh is the founder of the Climate Livelihoods and Agriculture Platform (CLAPgh), an initiative focused on youth empowerment, environmental awareness, tree planting, and community engagement for sustainable development.

 

Reacting to the honour, Domfeh described the recognition as both humbling and motivating.

 

“The nomination for this award came as a surprise. But it is inspiring to know that people recognise the impact of the work we do, even from a small corner,” he said.

 

“I am currently at a stage where my focus is on empowering others, particularly young journalists, to excel. This recognition will only encourage me to stay on course because the reality of climate change surrounds us and the impact is real. Everyone must take responsibility and contribute to climate action.”

 

Kofi Adu Domfeh also serves as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

 

Africa must align climate diplomacy with its industrial ambitions — AGN Chair

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called for alignment between climate diplomacy and Africa’s industrial ambitions, while reinforcing institutional coordination in advancing the continent’s climate narrative.

 

He noted that global climate diplomacy has fundamentally shifted beyond emissions targets and long term ambition, becoming increasingly intertwined with geopolitics, energy security, industrial competition, critical minerals and finance.

 

“These global shifts are reshaping Africa’s development options faster than our institutions are adapting,” he said. “At the same time, decisions taken outside the UNFCCC framework, in trade, industrial policy and finance, are increasingly determining what is feasible within it. If our climate diplomacy is not aligned with our energy needs and industrial ambitions, we risk locking ourselves into pathways that reproduce dependency rather than transformation.”

 

At the just concluded 39^th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nana Dr. Amoah had several engagements with cooperating partners, particularly the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), and emphasised the need for Africa to continue negotiating under a common position, and also strategically align climate diplomacy with its overall development agenda. 

 

The AGN Chair stressed that energy sovereignty, industrial policy and access to finance must be placed at the centre of Africa’s climate strategy, and urged stronger coordination among African institutions to address fragmentation between mandates and implementation.

 

Reflecting on key COP30 outcomes, Nana Dr. Amoah highlighted three priority areas for Africa: the Just Transition Mechanism, the climate–trade dialogue, and climate finance under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement.

 

On the Just Transition Mechanism, he stressed that Africa’s interpretation must go beyond worker protection to encompass national development and shared prosperity.

 

“For Africa, a just transition must mean manufacturing solar panels, batteries and green hydrogen components on the African soil. It must mean local beneficiation of critical minerals, supported by skills development and meaningful technology transfer,” he said, warning that a green transition that leaves Africa confined to exporting raw materials at the bottom of global value chains could not be described as just.

 

On trade, the AGN Chair cautioned that unilateral trade measures, carbon border adjustments and green subsidies were already reshaping global competitiveness, posing risks to African economies.

 

He thus urged the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to offer a platform to aggregate regional markets and address scale constraints, but stressed the need to preserve policy space for green industrial strategies and differentiated transition pathways.

 

Turning to finance, he underscored that the Paris Agreement’s affirmation of developed countries’ responsibility to provide financial resources to developing countries.

 

“In an era of tight fiscal space, climate finance must be adequate, predictable and patient. It must address Africa’s high cost of capital and support debt sustainability,” he said, calling for a shift from “fragmented, project financing towards programmatic, regional investment platforms capable of transforming entire sectors and value chains.”

 

Nana Dr Amoah reaffirmed the readiness of the AGN to ensure that climate diplomacy strengthens Africa’s industrial ambitions and long-term economic transformation.

 

In his efforts to ensure that Africa’s climate narrative is well-coordinated, technically grounded, and politically aligned to translate into real resilience for African communities, Nana Dr. Amoah engaged with several partners including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa Regional Office, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Green Climate Fund (GCF), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative, among others.

 

Senior Specialist for Climate Action at IOM, Lisa Lim Ah Ken, reaffirmed the organization’s readiness to continue supporting Africa’s climate agenda through sustained collaboration, technical engagement, and institutional partnership, while UNOAU’s Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU emphasized on the nexus of peace security and climate change. 

 

Meanwhile, UNEP Africa Regional Director, Rose Mwebaza, pledged continued strategic support, particularly focusing on strengthening Africa’s coordination, technical preparedness and political engagement in global climate negotiations.