The Keta coastline in Ghana’s Volta Region is at serious risk of being lost within two years due to the rapid rate of coastal erosion, according to Albert Derrick Fiatui, the Executive Director of the Center for International Maritime Affairs, Ghana (CIMAG).
Speaking in an interview with Solomon Anderson on the current affairs maritime television program, Eye on Port, Mr. Fiatui raised alarms about the unprecedented pace at which the sea is swallowing land in the region, stressing the urgency of implementing effective countermeasures to prevent further damage.
Mr Fiatui pointed out that Ghana boasts of one of the longest coastlines in West Africa, stretching approximately 550 kilometres. However, despite this natural asset, it is now severely threatened by coastal erosion.
According to his findings, some communities in the Keta Estuary area have already disappeared due to the encroaching sea.
“There used to be villages and schools there, but today they no longer exist. Geography has lost them because the sea has taken over,” Mr. Fiatui lamented.
In a startling revelation, Mr. Fiatui explained that while the average rate of coastline recession in West Africa is about 0.6 meters per year, the Keta area is receding at an alarming 2.2 meters annually. In some areas, this rate has skyrocketed to as much as six meters, causing significant damage to both the land and the livelihoods of the people in the affected communities. He warned that the situation is critical and, if left unchecked, the Keta coastline could vanish entirely in the next two years.
He criticized the current measures being taken to address the problem, particularly the construction of sea defense walls, which he described as a temporary and ultimately inadequate solution. He acknowledged that while sea walls may offer short-term relief, they often lead to further erosion in adjacent areas. “Sea defense walls are not a permanent solution. They may buy us time, but they destroy coastal biodiversity and lead to more erosion elsewhere,” Mr. Fiatui stated.
Instead, he advocated for a more sustainable, nature-based approach to coastal protection. One of the key strategies he recommended was the planting of mangroves and other vegetation, which can naturally stabilize the coastline and provide long-term resilience against erosion.
“Mangroves are one of the most effective natural defences against coastal erosion. They help to protect the coastline, and we must encourage their growth across the coastal areas of Ghana,” Mr. Fiatui explained.
He also highlighted the need to learn from international examples of successful coastal protection. He referenced Taiwan’s ReShore technology, which uses wave energy to both weaken destructive tidal forces and generate renewable energy, describing it as a potential solution for Ghana.
Similarly, he pointed to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which have used a combination of natural and technological measures to safeguard their coastlines. “We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to study what these countries have done and apply it here in Ghana,” Mr. Fiatui emphasized.
Funding, however, remains one of the largest obstacles to implementing these solutions.
Mr. Fiatui noted that large-scale projects like these require significant financial investment, which Ghana has struggled to secure. Nonetheless, he praised the efforts of the World Bank, which has initiated the West African Coastal Areas (WACA) program. The project, which aims to support sustainable management and development of West African coastlines, has already provided $1.5 million in funding to Ghana.
He expressed hope that the success of the WACA project in other West African countries like Benin and Togo will spur further international support for Ghana.
He also called for more robust education and engagement of local communities, particularly regarding their role in exacerbating the situation through harmful practices like sand winning and the cutting of mangroves for firewood. “The local people need to understand that some of their actions are contributing to the destruction of the very land they live on. We need to sensitize them and offer alternative livelihoods to prevent further damage,” the maritime sector development advocate urged.
Throughout the conversation, Mr. Fiatui stressed the importance of immediate action, warning that any delay could result in the complete disappearance of the Keta coastline. “We cannot afford to wait any longer. If we do not act now, we will lose Keta entirely, along with the livelihoods, heritage, and resources tied to it,” he concluded.
