August Seminars

The Democratic Politics of Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Relationship between Climate Adaptation Governance and Democratic Development in Ghana

Presenter: Moses Cobbina

Abstract
This study examines the relationship between climate change adaptation governance and democratic development in Ghana, drawing on adaptive governance theory. Using a quantitative research approach and descriptive cross-sectional design, the study sampled 300 participants through stratified sampling and purposive techniques from Ghana’s coastal and forest agro-ecological zones. The statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between adaptation governance and participation in decision-making (r = .432**, p < .01) and public trust in institutions (r = .390**, p < .01), transparency (r=.235**, p<.01), social inclusion (r = .297**, p < .01), and accountability (r = .226**, p < .01). The regression models further show that climate adaptation governance has a substantial positive effect on democratic development (β = .493, R2=. 24.3, p < .001). A comparative analysis between the two ecological zones also demonstrated ecological variations between the zones. These findings highlight the reinforcing relationship between climate adaptation governance and democratic development, suggesting that enhancing participatory, transparent, and inclusive adaptation policies can strengthen democratic resilience. The study contributes to the emerging discourse on climate-democracy linkages in Sub-Saharan Africa and offers policy guidance for integrating governance reforms into climate adaptation strategies.