Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and ... - ITU

As identified during the Symposium held in Quito, Ecuador, in July 2009 17 , “In addition to global agreements
on climate change, regional and national ICT polices could play a key role in efforts to combat climate
change. Toward that end, ICT policymakers and regulators increasingly need to consider environmental
impacts in developing new ICT laws, strategies and development plans” (p. 18).
Building on the increasing acknowledgement of ICTs’ potential within the climate change field, a recent
report by the University of Manchester 18 highlights the need for new policies that integrate the productive,
informational and transformative potential of ICTs into emerging and ongoing climate change strategies,
and at the same time, that ensure articulation between ICT policies and climate change priorities towards
the achievement of development goals.
In response to that need, the following sections of the report will explore the integration of ICTs and climate
change adaptation policies based on the experience of Ghana, a developing country that has undertaken
pioneer policy actions to advance in this emerging field.
2. Developing nations facing a changing climate: the case of Ghana
Having identified the increasing linkages that exist between climate change adaptation and ICTs, as well as
the need to effectively integrate the role of these tools in climate change policies and strategies, this section
focuses on presenting Ghana as the context of study.
The case of Ghana, a West African nation that has reported temperature increase of 1˚C over the past
30 years, as well as the impacts of erratic rainfall, floods and more extreme weather events 19 , serves to
illustrate the severity with which climatic challenges are affecting developing nations, as well as the actions
taken and the resources needed to address them. Ghana’s case will also help to demonstrate the potential
of ICTs towards the fulfilment of adaptation goals, setting the context to draw lessons learned and
suggested steps in subsequent sections of the report.
2.1 Overview of Ghana’s context
Geographic location and resources
Ghana is located in West Africa on the Guinea Coast. At latitudes of 4-12°N, the country shares borders with
Togo on the East, Burkina Faso on the North, Cote d’Ivoire on the West and the Gulf of Guinea to the South
(Figure 2). Ghana covers an area of 238,539 square kilometers. Extensive water bodies include Lake Volta
and Bosomtwi, which occupy 3,275 square kilometers, while seasonal and perennial rivers occupy another
23,350 square kilometers.
Ghana's population is around 25.0 million 20 , which is estimated to be increasing at a rate of 2.8-3.0 per cent
per annum. The country is classified by the World Bank as a lower-middle-income country, with a 2010 per
capita Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of USD 1,190 21 .
With forested areas in 22.7 per cent of its territory 22 , Ghana is endowed with abundant natural resources
that have played a very important role in the agricultural, industrial, economic and social development
efforts of the country. However, as a result of incessant exploitation of these natural resources to meet the
legitimate socio-economic aspirations of the people, adequate care has often not been taken to guard
against the depletion and mismanagement of the resources. Unsustainable development practices have
caused irreparable damage resulting in deforestation, land degradation, air and water pollution, soil
erosion, overgrazing, and destruction of biodiversity, among others.
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