Carbon Sequestration in Ghana: Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Implications

Abstract

Ghana is increasingly affected by deforestation, land degradation, agricultural expansion, mining, and urbanisation, leading to significant carbon losses and growing vulnerability to climate change. Carbon sequestration has emerged as an important nature-based solution for climate change mitigation while supporting sustainable land management and livelihoods. Although Ghana hosts diverse ecosystems—including forests, savannahs, wetlands, agroforestry systems, and agricultural soils—evidence on their carbon sequestration potential and the effectiveness of related policy interventions remains fragmented. This review provides a timely synthesis to support informed decision-making and national climate commitments. Objectives of the Study: The objectives are to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of Ghana’s major ecosystems, identify key drivers of carbon loss, assess existing policies and institutional frameworks supporting carbon sequestration, and synthesise challenges, opportunities, and policy-relevant recommendations. Methodology: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature, national policy documents, and international reports was conducted. The analysis integrates biophysical evidence on ecosystem carbon storage with socio-economic drivers and governance mechanisms, including REDD+, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and wetland restoration. Major Findings: Forests and agroforestry systems show the highest potential for carbon sequestration, while agricultural soils and wetlands provide important opportunities for long-term carbon storage under sustainable management. However, unsustainable land-use practices, weak governance, limited institutional coordination, and inadequate financing constrain effective implementation. Existing initiatives demonstrate potential but are often limited by enforcement challenges and insufficient community participation. Main Conclusion and Policy Implications: Ghana has considerable yet underexploited potential to enhance carbon sequestration. Achieving this requires integrated land management, strengthened governance and tenure security, community engagement, and innovative financing mechanisms aligned with national climate mitigation and resilience goals.