German Ambassador to Ghana Frederik Landshoft says communities facing the effects of climate change must be at the heart of decisions on how to respond, with Ghanaian institutions and local people taking the lead.
Speaking at the Keta edition of the Climate Talks 2026, organised in partnership with TV3 on Wednesday, October 14, Mr Landshoft said effective responses to climate-related security threats required the involvement of fishermen, scientists, traditional leaders, government agencies and security institutions.
“The people most affected must have a central role in shaping the solutions. Ghanaian institutions and communities must lead the way,” he said.
He urged participants to contribute their experiences and challenge ideas during the discussions.
“I want to encourage you: Ask questions. Share your experiences. Challenge ideas. And take part in the discussion.
“Because your voices, your knowledge and your perspectives are exactly what we need to make these Climate Talks meaningful,” he added.
Germany and other development partners, he said, could provide expertise, resources and technical cooperation while supporting initiatives led locally. He also called for early prevention, adaptation measures suited to local conditions, and closer links between coastal protection, public health, social protection and sustainable livelihoods.
Mr Landshoft warned that climate change and coastal erosion were threatening livelihoods, food security and social stability in vulnerable communities, particularly along the coast.
The consequences, he said, went beyond the destruction of land and infrastructure. They also affected public health, cultural heritage, community relationships and families’ ability to earn a living.
“Climate change can undermine livelihoods and narrow the choices available to young people. Strengthening resilience therefore also means protecting existing opportunities and helping to create new ones.
“And this brings us to the very purpose of our Climate Talks,” he said.
Keta’s coastline
The ambassador illustrated the impact of erosion in Keta through the experience of resident Joana Adiku, who had watched the sea move steadily towards her home over several decades.
When a journalist interviewed Joana in 2023, she was 60 years old and the sea had reached within three feet of her house.
“There was a wide stretch of land between her home and the sea. But over the decades, she watched that distance become smaller and smaller.
“When a journalist spoke to her in 2023, Joana was 60 years old. And the sea had come to within just three feet of her home. Less than one metre,” he said.
“For Joana, the distance between her home and the sea had become a measure of her security,” he added.
Mr Landshoft said erosion in Keta was not a recent development, having affected residents for more than a century. Natural processes, human intervention and climate change had all influenced changes along the coastline.
He warned that relocation could cost families more than their homes, potentially separating them from their communities, cultural heritage and sense of belonging. Women, children and vulnerable households were often among those most affected, while pressure on livelihoods could intensify tensions and weaken social cohesion.
“Coastal erosion threatens homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. It puts food security and public health under pressure.
“And when families are forced to move, they may lose their communities, their cultural heritage and their sense of belonging.”
The Keta event was part of a nationwide Climate Talks series examining the relationship between climate change, livelihoods and security. Previous discussions in Tamale considered changing rainfall patterns and competition for land and water; Bolgatanga focused on drought and climate-induced migration; and Kumasi examined climate change, the environment and illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey.
Although the regions face different problems, Mr Landshoft said they shared the need to protect future opportunities for affected people.
“Germany has not come here to tell Ghana how to deal with climate change. We are here to listen and to learn,” he said.
