Country
Ghana
Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Ghana.
Country Summary
This page presents high-level information for Ghana's climate zones and its seasonal cycle for mean temperature and precipitation for the latest climatology, 1991-2020. Climate zone classifications are derived from the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, which divides climates into five main climate groups divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). All climates except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation sub-group (second letter). Climate classifications are identified by hovering your mouse over the legend. A narrative overview of Ghana's country context and climate is provided following the visualizations.
Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification, 1991-2020
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Ghana is located in West Africa on the Guinea Coast and shares borders with Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, La Cote d’Ivoire to the west and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Ghana contains extensive water bodies, including Lake Volta and Bosomtwi, as well as a series of seasonal and perennial rivers. Ghana's population is estimated at 28 million (2016). Agriculture and livestock constitute the mainstay of Ghana’s economy, accounting for 32% of gross domestic product in 2009 and employing 55% of the economically active population. Agriculture is predominantly rainfed, hence making it a great concern with respect to potential climatic change.
The adverse impacts of climate change on the sustainable livelihoods of the rural communities of Ghana, coupled with poverty, severely limit economic development. The Government approved Ghana’s first comprehensive National Climate Change Policy in 2013, which focuses on low-carbon growth, adaptation and social development. Ghana ratified the Paris Agreement on September 21, 2016, and the associated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) can be found here. The NDC is anchored in the 40-year long-term development, the GSGDA II, the National Climate Change Policy as well as the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
