BRIEF ON DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL EROSION PROJECTS IN GHANA 

1. INTRODUCTION

Ghana, like her sister countries of Togo, Benin and Nigeria, in the Bight of Benin, has been experiencing severe sea erosion problems at various points along - her 580 kilometre coastline. The most severe and internationally known areas are located in the Volta estuary basin, at Keta and Ada.

Generally, the natural features of Ghana's coastline comprise a series of sandy beaches and also rock outcrops. Erosion of the beach material has occurred at places exposing the rocky substratum. Areas where the rocks are not hard enough experience considerable erosion. Changes in the ecological system, as a result of the coastal erosion, have produced effects which have gravely minimized the effectiveness of the fishing, tourist and other economic enterprises.

The extensive erosion along beaches has resulted in the migration of most fishermen. Also, fishing currently in most places is faced with great disasters arising from the impact of the rock outcrops on canoes. These incidences have impacted greatly on the economy of the communities whose livelihood is very much dependent on fishing.

The consequences of the erosion problem on salt production in some areas have been very dramatic. The beach erosion has eaten into most salt-production pans rendering them inefficient and this has led to most entrepreneurs having been forced, unfortunately, to abandon their businesses.

Another consequence of the environmental changes is the serious frequent inundation of settlements on the shores. This has led to great destruction of buildings and property; and reduced level of beach usage for recreation.

2. ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT

The Government of Ghana is committed to deriving optimum economic and social benefits from its investments. This has been the cornerstone for its economic management programmes, backed by rational public investment programmes. It cannot deviate from this position without a justifiable cause, dictated by considerations of national interest. 

The Government, conscious that it can derive full economic and social benefits from investments in sea defence works, sees proposals aimed at mitigating devastations by the sea as a necessary step in the direction of a meaningful socio-economic development of areas inhabited by a significant number of its citizens. Thus, the conception of development in coastal erosion areas and their environs fits into the Government's commitment to social justice, sensitivity to social issues as well as its priority policies on infrastructural development. By ameliorating the physical degeneration taking place as a result of coastal erosion, the Government expects to create confidence in an environment which would attract investment in fisheries, industrial and tourism development.

3. DEVELOPMENTAL PRIORITY

The Government justifies the high priority status of sea defence projects in connection with the enormous economic development potential of coastal erosion areas and their environs as studied over the years. The studies propose a major economic development concept for fishery and industry in such areas benefiting from the harnessing of water resources. In this respect, the preservation of shorefronts would be a great step in the direction of a meaningful socio-economic development for Ghana.

The construction of sea defence works is currently one of the Government's Sector Ministry's i.e. the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing highest priority projects. The protection works also feature prominently as an effort in the realization of the overall economic development potential of coastal erosion areas and their enVirons. After the completion of the Keta Sea Defence Project; and the near-implementation of the Ada Sea Defence Project, for which financial support has already been obtained; the listed sea defence projects are some of government's next highest prioritized coastal erosion projects.

The Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing overseas all infrastructural or civil works construction; with the exception of road works and carries responsibility for their implementation. Works completed in the past include the Keta Sea Defence Project, water treatment projects" major building projects, sewerage projects, etc. Payments for all projects handled by the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing are made through the Ministry of Finance (and Economic Planning). The Ministry of Finance (and Economic Planning) also provides repayment guarantees to funding agencies on behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing. 

4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS

The implementation of the coastal erosion projects would aim at protecting beaches and its environs against encroachment by the sea, arresting environmental deterioration as well as mitigating the negative social and economic consequences of the beach erosion. Such projects would also strengthen the economic and productive base of the areas through enhanced tourist, industrial, fishery and commercial activities. The projects would forestall a potential disaster arising out of destruction due to coastal erosion. The incremental recurrent cost implication on government budget for coastal erosion projects is expected to be in the form of maintenance of the sea defence structures. The projects would generate many jobs directly and indirectly during implementation. The Government is therefore of the opinion that it makes economic and political sense to rigorously pursue sea defence works.

5. PROJECTS AND ESTIMATED COSTS

The following listed projects are among the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing's highest prioritized coastal erosion projects.

• New Takoradi Sea Defence Project - Western Region

• Amanful Kumah Coastal Protection Works - Western Region

• Axim Coastal Protection Works - Western Region

• Cape Coast Coastal Protection Works - Central Region

• Dixcove Coastal Protection Works - Western Region

• Komenda Coastal Protection Works - Central Region

• Nkontompo Coastal Protection Works (Phase 2) - Western Region

The anticipated scope of works entails sea defence works to limit the erosion of shorefronts. The works would include the construction of sea defence structures and beach nourishment. The project costs would cover a detailed study involving detailed engineering designs of the various components and their construction according to designed specifications. For most of the areas, a system of groyne field would be appropriate. The project cost estimate for the construction of a suitable coastal protection system over a stretch of about l0km is about US$90 million for each of the listed projects.