Browsing by Author "Addo, K.A."

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The ability of societies to adapt to twenty-first-century sea-level rise
(Nature Publishing Group, 2018) Hinkel, J.; Aerts, J.C.J.H.; Brown, S.; Jiménez, J.A.; Lincke, D.; Nicholls, R.J.; Scussolini, P.; Sanchez-Arcilla, A.; Vafeidis, A.; Addo, K.A.
Against the background of potentially substantial sea-level rise, one important question is to what extent are coastal societies able to adapt? This question is often answered in the negative by referring to sinking islands and submerged megacities. Although these risks are real, the picture is incomplete because it lacks consideration of adaptation. This Perspective explores societies' abilities to adapt to twenty-first-century sea-level rise by integrating perspectives from coastal engineering, economics, finance and social sciences, and provides a comparative analysis of a set of cases that vary in terms of technological limits, economic and financial barriers to adaptation and social conflicts. © 2018 The Publisher.
Application of Shore-Based Video and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones): Complementary Tools for Beach Studies
(remote sensing, 2020-01-26) Jayson-Quashigah, P-N.; Angnuureng, D.B.; Almar, R.; Stieglitz, T.C.; Anthony, E.J.; Aheto, D.W.; Addo, K.A.
Video camera systems have been used over nearly three decades to monitor coastal dynamics. They facilitate a high-frequency analysis of spatiotemporal shoreline mobility. Video camera usage to measure beach intertidal profile evolution has not been standardized globally and the capacity to obtain accurate results requires authentication using various techniques. Applications are mostly site specific due to di erences in installation. The present study examines the accuracy of intertidal topographic data derived from a video camera system compared to data acquired with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone) surveys of a reflective beach. Using one year of 15-min video data and one year of monthly UAV observations, the intertidal profile shows a good agreement. Underestimations of intertidal profile elevations by the camera-based method are possibly linked to the camera view angle, rectification and gaps in data. The resolution of the video-derived intertidal topographic profiles confirmed, however, the suitability of the method in providing beach mobility surveys matching those required for a quantitative analysis of nearshore changes. Beach slopes were found to vary between 0.1 and 0.7, with a steep slope in May to July 2018 and a gentle slope in December 2018. Large but short-scale beach variations occurred between August 2018 and October 2018 and corresponded to relatively high wave events. In one year, this dynamic beach lost 7 m. At this rate, and as also observed at other beaches nearby, important coastal facilities and infrastructure will be prone to erosion. The data suggest that a low-cost shore-based camera, particularly when used in a network along the coast, can produce profile data for e ective coastal management in West Africa and elsewhere.
Assessing coastal vulnerability index to climate change: the case of Accra - Ghana
(Journal of Coastal Research, 2013-03) Addo, K.A.
Coastal zones are under severe threat from climate change and its associated sea-level rise. Areas with relatively low elevations will experience either temporal or permanent flooding, while other areas will experience increased coastal erosion. Several factors within the coastal environment combine to drive coastal erosion. Identifying these variables and quantifying their risk levels enable the vulnerability index of a particular location to be estimated. This study divided the coast of Accra into three sections based on the geomorphology. The vulnerability index was estimated for the three sections by determining their relative risk factors. The 'square root of product mean' (CVI5) method was adopted for this study. The results indicate that the coastal vulnerability index for the entire coast of Accra is 7.7, which falls within the moderate risk category. The western section is more vulnerable to sea-level rise followed by the eastern and the central sections. Inundation in the western section will result in displacement of the local population, destroy their source of livelihood and flood the Densu wetlands - a RAMSAR site. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2013.
Assessing Ocean Wave Dynamics, Potential Sediment Transport, and Coastal Erosion along Accra Coast in Ghana
(Journal of Coastal Research, 2018-09) Addo, K.A.
This study assessed wave dynamics and sediment transport along the coast of Accra in Ghana and compared the results with coastal erosion trend. Wave data from NOAA global wave model and measured buoy wave data were analysed as well as the potential sediment transport using the CERC's equation. The estimated mean significant wave height was 1.40 m and the period was between 10 and 15 seconds. The potential sediment transport rate was between 4.1 ×105 m3/yr and 4.1 ×105 m3/yr, while coastal erosion rate was 1.13 m/yr. Potential sediment transport rate increases from west to east. Coastal erosion is relatively high along the eastern and western coasts of Accra, while the central coast is relatively stable. Wave heights increased gradually from 1.00 m in January to a peak of 1.73 m in August, and eventually decreased to 1.10 m in December. The shape of the nearshore profile is significantly different along the eastern coast relative to the western and central coasts. This indicates that sediment transport intensity and nearshore bathymetry interaction in part explain the rate of erosion observed along the Accra coast in Ghana.
Assessing the impact of sea-level rise on a vulnerable coastal community in Accra, Ghana
(Jamba: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 2013-08) Addo, K.A.; Adeyemi, M.
Climate change and its associated sea-level rise are expected to significantly affect vulnerable coastal communities. Although the extent of the impact will be localised, its assessment will adopt a monitoring approach that applies globally. The topography of the beach, the type of geological material and the level of human intervention will determine the extent of the area to be flooded and the rate at which the shoreline will move inland. Gleefe, a coastal community in Ghana, has experienced frequent flooding in recent times due to the increasing occurrence of storm surge and sea-level rise. This study used available geospatial data and field measurements to determine how the beach topography has contributed to the incidence of flooding at Gleefe. The topography is generally low-lying. Sections of the beach have elevations of around 1 m, which allows seawater to move inland during very high tide. Accelerated sea-level rise as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will destroy homes of the inhabitants and inundate the Densu wetlands behind the beach. Destruction of infrastructure will render the inhabitants homeless, whilst flooding of the wetlands will destroy the habitats of migratory birds and some endangered wildlife species such as marine turtle. Effective adaptation measures should be adopted to protect this very important coastal environment, the ecology of the wetlands and the livelihoods of the community dwellers. © 2013.
Assessment of short-term beach sediment change in the Volta Delta coast in Ghana using data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drone)
(Ocean and Coastal Management, 2019-09-10) Jayson-Quashigah, P-N.; Addo, K.A.; Amisigo, B.; Wiafe, G.
Reduced sediment in delta beach systems affects delta coast topography and influence delta beach evolution. It opens the deltaic environment up to severe ocean waves and tide attack, which threatens vulnerable coastal communities and increases the risk of the inhabitants. Changes in the beach sediment systems vary from few meters to several kilometres and from hours/days (short term) to decades (long term). Various methods have been developed to analyse changes in beach sediments. This study used Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV or Drone) approach to assess short-term sediment dynamics (from April 2017 to April 2018) in three vulnerable beach systems at Old Ningo (west), Fuveme (central) and Keta (east) communities within the Volta Delta coast in Ghana. High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were developed from the drone images captured, which enabled perpendicular profiles to be generated. Sampled sediments were analysed to determine variation in sizes along the coast. Analysis of the profiles revealed that for the period between April 2017 and April 2018, the beach system at Ningo recorded a net loss of about 8,850 m3 volume of sediment; at Fuvemeh the beach system gained about 12,700 m3 net volume of sediment; in Keta the beach system also gained about 12,100 m3 net volume of sediment. Sediment size analysis revealed that the western section has a relatively finer grain size compared to the east. The coast experienced lower waves between January and February and higher waves between July and August. The pattern of change in the sediment dynamics follows the changing trend in the wave height observed in the region. This indicates that wave dynamics is a major driver of short term sediment change in the Volta delta beach systems. Increased wave intensity as a result of climate change will have a significant impact on the delta beach systems, which will increase erosion and flooding incidence.
Assessment of the dynamics of the Volta river estuary shorelines in Ghana
(Geoenvironmental Disasters, 2020-05-25) Addo, K.A.; Brempong, E.K.; Jayson-Quashigah, P.N.
Estuarine shorelines similar to marine coastlines are highly dynamic and may increase disaster risk in vulnerable communities. The situation is expected to worsen with climate change impacts and increasing anthropogenic activities such as upstream water management. This study assessed shoreline changing trends along the Volta river estuary in Ghana as well as the marine coastline using satellite imageries, orthophotos and topographic maps spanning a period of 120 years (1895, 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2015). Linear regression method in the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was used to determine the estuary shoreline migration trend by estimating the shorelines rate of change for the eastern and western sides of the estuary. The rates of change of the marine coastlines on the east and west of the estuary were also estimated. The results show that the eastern and western shoreline of the estuary are eroding at an average rate of about 1.94 m/yr and 0.58 m/yr respectively. The coastlines on the marine side (eastern and western) are eroding at an average rate of about 2.19 m/yr and 0.62 m/yr respectively. Relatively high rates of erosion observed on the eastern estuarine shoreline as well as the coastline could be explained by the reduced sediment supply by the Volta River due to the damming of the Volta River in Akosombo and the sea defence structures constructed to manage erosion problems. The trend is expected to increase under changing oceanographic conditions and increased subsidence in the Volta delta. Effective management approach, such as developing disaster risk reduction strategy, should be adopted to increase the resilience of the communities along the estuarine shoreline and increase their adaptive capacity to climate change hazards and disasters.
A Biophysical and Socioeconomic Review of the Volta Delta, Ghana
(Journal of Coastal Research, 2018-01) Addo, K.A.; Nicholls, R.J.; Codjoe, S.N.A.; Abu, M.
Delta regions are dynamic and rich environments with diverse economic activities and are often densely populated.Deltas are being shaped by multiple drivers, including changes in sediment delivery to the coastal zone due to catchment changes, especially construction of dams on major rivers, intensified agriculture and/or aquaculture, mining, urbanisation, human-induced subsidence, climate change, and sea-level rise. These environmental challenges have significant implications for the livelihoods of delta residents. Thus, the integrated assessment of deltas is now attracting the attention of the scientific research community to analyse and understand deltas as coupled biophysical and socioeconomic systems. Most attention has been focussed on the major deltas. This review focusses on the smaller but regionally significant Volta delta, Ghana. Previous scientific studies are limited, with more focus upstream on the Volta River basin. Many contemporary problems are recognised in the Volta delta, especially erosion and flooding of the open coast fringe, such as at the town of Keta. However, these problems are treated independently, which may hinder identifying the root causes and the most effective solutions. Equally, the emergence of new problems might be anticipated and hence better managed or even avoided. This paper reviews the present delta with emphasis on biophysical processes and socioeconomic characteristics and considers in particular the current drivers and challenges.With this information, a research agenda will be established for a more systemic approach to understanding the Volta delta, including its residents and development.
Challenges to climate change adaptation in coastal small towns: Examples from Ghana, Uruguay, Finland, Denmark, and Alaska
(Ocean and Coastal Management, 2021) Fitton, J.M.; Addo, K.A.; Jayson-Quashigah, P-N.; Nagy, G.J.; Guti´errez, O.; Panario, D.; Carro, I.; Seijo, L.; Segura, C.; Verocai, J.E.; Luoma, S.; Klein, J.; Zhang, T-T.; Birchall, J.; Stempel, P.
The ability of a coastal settlement to adapt to climate change is largely dependent upon access to a range of resources, which many coastal towns and small cities lack. Coastal small towns of less than 10,000 are therefore at a significant disadvantage compared to larger settlements when it comes to adaptation. One way to begin to overcome this disadvantage is to compare coastal small towns in order to identify efficiencies and support knowledge sharing. In this article we present and analyse five case studies of coastal small towns: Fuvemeh, Ghana; Kiyú, Uruguay; Hanko, Finland; Lemvig, Denmark; and Nome, Alaska, USA. A number of key outcomes and lessons were identified which highlights the need for a formal network of international coastal small towns to encourage and develop knowledge sharing practices going forward. A further lesson is the importance of using a range of indicators in order to establish the regional/national importance of a town. Basing this solely on population size can result in an erroneous interpretation of the significance (and therefore adaptive capacity) of a coastal small town. Finally, despite many barriers to adaptation in coastal small towns, being small offers some potential advantages, such as the possibility of being able to form a community consensus more easily, using 3D visualisations for adaptation planning, and having managed realignment as a realistic management option. It is imperative that climate change resilience in coastal small towns is increased by focussing on overcoming barriers and developing appropriate adaptation approaches by governments, non-governmental organisations, business, and researchers.
Coastal erosion in ghana: Causes and effects
(Coastal and Beach Erosion: Processes, Adaptation Strategies and Environmental Impacts, 2015) Addo, K.A.
Coastal erosion is a critical issue along Ghana coast and has become the centre of national debate in recent times. Although erosion is largely a natural process, human activities have exacerbated their impact within the Ghana coastal zone. Such activities directly impact the coast and indirectly influence the coastal processes by reducing the capacity of the coastal ecosystem to cope with the natural phenomenon. Coastal erosion in Ghana has destroyed coastal infrastructure ranging from urban areas to small fishing villages, threatens important cultural and historical resources, hindered coastal tourism development, and affected the socioeconomic life of the local population. Twenty five erosion hot spots have been identified along the Ghana coast with varying erosion intensity and drivers. Mitigation efforts by the government to manage the erosion situation have transferred the problem from one location to another. The situation is further worsened by the lack of effective policies and the ad hoc approach adopted in coastal erosion management. This paper critically assesses the causes of coastal erosion in Ghana and their impact on the socioeconomic life of the coastal communities under increasing climate change scenarios. © 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Continuous Struggle for Space - Coastal Erosion in Ghana.
(University of Ghana., 2022-03-31) Addo, K.A.
ABSTRACT The coastal zone refers to the interface between the land and sea. This very important environment comprises a range of coastal lands and aquatic systems that support a wide range of critical habitats and unique biodiversity. The coastal zone is home to a large percentage of the human population. About 60% of the world’s megacities are situated in the coastal zones and 40% of all the people on the planet live within 100 kilometers of the coastal zone. Several infrastructural systems that form the backbone of our society can be found within the coastal zone. The coastal zone exhibits the closely interconnected and interdependent relationships between humans and coastal resources. This interconnectedness amplifies the most urgent questions of limits and equilibrium, sustainability and conservation, as well as exploitation and development in today’s world. Managing coastal zones presents several challenges as they are complex and fragile environments that are continually changing. Coastal zones have been shaped in the past by the dynamic interaction of marine, terrestrial and atmospheric processes. However, in recent times, extreme climatic events, sea-level rise and increasing human activities are increasing the coastal system’s vulnerability, making it susceptible to coastal hazards. Although variations in sea levels are natural responses to climate change, geodetic variations, movements of the seafloor, and other earth processes, human actions such as drainage of wetlands and withdrawal of groundwater may also contribute to the rise in sea levels through coastal land subsidence. Local anthropogenic activities such as coastal resources exploitation and extraction; infrastructural developments to accommodate increasing coastal population and industries; destruction of coastal vegetation (e.g. mangroves); upstream watershed management (e.g. construction of dams on major rivers for hydropower generation and irrigation); dredging of waterways for shipping and commerce; beach sand mining; and the construction of ports and coastal defense structures (e.g. groynes, seawalls, revetments) have opened up the coast to energetic wave attack, reduced sediment inflow into the littoral system, blocked sediment transport pathways, reduced beach sand volumes or rendered the coastal systems less resilient to naturally fight coastal hazards. The increasing human development and encroachment on the strip of land that separates human activities from the shoreline’s dynamic processes is denying the shoreline the much-needed space for it to naturally evolve. This has resulted in a “coastal land squeeze” situation. The continuous struggle for space between humans and the shoreline disturbs the equilibrium state of the coastal environment and accelerates changes in the coastal zones, which results in terrible consequences with environmental and economic implications. Twenty-five (25) coastal erosion hot spots have been identified along the coast of Ghana that are eroding at varying rates and intensity due to the significant geomorphological variability. The eastern coast, where the Volta Delta is located, is the most vulnerable. Coastal communities that are the front-line of the direct effect of the coastal erosion hazard are experiencing the impacts in various forms. Coastal erosion has displaced households, destroyed sources of livelihood, damaged properties and almost wiped out an entire community (Fuvemeh in 2021). Challenges in the coastal zone are projected to accelerate under increasing sea-level rise. This will expose low lying vulnerable coastal communities to coastal erosion hazards. The impact of sea-level rise on coastal infrastructure will be high since it has not been factored into the design and maintenance of several coastal infrastructures. Under IPCC projected sea-level rise scenarios, landmark features such as the Christianborg Castle, Independence Square and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum located in Accra will erode between 50 and 150 years’ time with 2002 as the baseline year. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Office of the President was relocated from the Christianborg Castle in Osu-Accra to its present location (Jubilee House). Future projections again suggest that between approximately 4.7x106 m2 and 8.2x106 m2 of coastal land will be eroded in Accra alone by the year 2252 (2002 as baseline year) over an estimated length of about 40 kilometres. Present and future coastal erosion challenges call for the development of pragmatic management strategies based on research. Sustainably managing coastal erosion is progressively becoming a huge challenge in Ghana. We find ourselves in this current management quandary mainly because of the local ‘political’ and ‘economic’ pressures, which are backed by limited science and policy intent. Ghana has resorted to ‘fighting’ coastal erosion instead of managing it – a war we may never win. The approach adopted to manage coastal erosion is mainly the hard engineering method – i.e., construction of groynes (shore-perpendicular structures used to maintain eroding up-drift beaches or to restrict longshore sediment transport) and revetments (shore parallel structures constructed to protect coastal properties). The hard engineering approach seeks to resist the natural coastal system dynamics instead of enhancing their resilience. Using groynes have the potential to accelerate coastal erosion in adjacent down-drift areas, which may require the need for additional hard structures that are practically inappropriate. Placement of revetments will decrease the release of sediments from the sections they protect, which impact negatively on the sediment budget along adjacent shorelines and increase erosion on the adjacent beaches. This business-as-usual ‘one solution fits all problems’ approach is not sustainable, environmentally unfriendly, and difficult to maintain. The temporary success stories are just a postponement of the problems or a transfer of the problems to the adjacent shoreline. Shifting the status quo and changing the paradigm from ‘fighting with nature’ to ‘building with nature’ should be the basis upon which we can develop sustainable and effective strategies for coastal erosion management in Ghana. There is an urgent need to develop a new coastal management culture based on consistent shoreline statutes assessment due to the emerging global geophysical changes and a set of coastal management policies driven by research. This lecture seeks to discuss the coastal processes in the coastal zone that result in coastal erosion, and how the continuous struggle for space between anthropogenic activities and shoreline evolution has exacerbated coastal erosion problems in Ghana. The lecture will present Ghana’s approach to managing coastal erosion and present my research work on coastal erosion dynamics, innovative approaches to monitor coastal erosion as well as methods developed for shoreline evolution trend analysis in data-sparse coastal nations. PROFILE Personal Details: Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo is a Professor in Coastal Processes in the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana. He comes from Akyem Begoro in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region, Ghana. His parents, the Late Mr. Samuel Yaw Addo and Mrs. Mercy Gyamfuah Addo are both from Begoro. He is the third of five siblings with two elder brothers and two younger sisters. Professor Appeaning Addo is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Irene Appeaning Addo, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana and a Professional Architect and they are blessed with three children – Kwabena Appeaning Addo, Amma Gyamfuah Appeaning Addo, and Adwoa Agyapomaa Appeaning Addo. He enjoys gardening as a hobby and loves listening to classical music during his leisure hours. He is a Presbyterian and worships with the Calvary Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Haatso-Accra where he served as a Presbyter from 2014 to 2018. Educational Background: Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo started his primary education at the Effiduase Methodist Primary and the Koforidua Methodist Primary ‘C’ Schools respectively. He continued at the Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School also in Koforidua where he wrote the Common Entrance Examination in 1981. He then proceeded to the Koforidua Secondary Technical School (SECTECH) for both his Ordinary and Advanced Levels and completed in 1986 and 1988 respectively. He did his post-Advanced Level National Service at the Okrakwadwo Health Center in the Eastern Region. He then proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for his undergraduate studies in Geomatic Engineering in 1989 and completed in 1993. He had his post-Undergraduate National Service at the Assin District Assembly in Assin Fosu in 1994, where he also became the Central Regional President of the National Service Personnel Association. In the year 2000, Professor Appeaning Addo enrolled for his MPhil Studies in Geomatic Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. During his Masters’ studies, he developed a research interest in coastal processes and its impact on coastal zone management and planning. In 2004, he was awarded a GETFUND Scholarship to pursue his PhD studies in coastal processes at the School of Civil and Geosciences, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. Professor Appeaning Addo had certificate training in the Exclusive Economic Zone Management and Operational Course in 2012 and in Maritime Boundary Delimitation and UNCLOS Article 76 (CARIS LOTS) in 2013. He also had training in teaching in higher institutions at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 2005. Professional Background: Professor Appeaning Addo began his career as a Geomatic Engineer in 1994 at the RUDAN Engineering Limited, a private consultancy firm in Accra where he was involved in executing Geomatic Engineering projects all over Ghana. In 1999, he joined the Accra Polytechnic (now Accra Technical University) as a lecturer in the Department of Building and Civil Engineering. While lecturing at the Accra Technical University, he took up a part-time lectureship in Physical Oceanography and Coastal Geomorphology in the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries in the then Faculty of Science (now Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences), School of Biological Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, in 2008. He was appointed full-time faculty member in 2010 to teach Physical Oceanography at the graduate level, as well as Coastal Engineering and Coastal Geomorphology at the undergraduate level. Through hard work and the Grace of God, Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2013, Associate Professor in 2015, and Professor in 2020. Membership of Professional Bodies: Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo has served as a member of several bodies including the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, Society of Wetlands Scientists, American Geophysical Union, Union for African Population Studies, Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, and the University Teachers’ Association of Ghana. Research and Areas of Expertise: Professor Appeaning Addo’s research focus has been on nearshore coastal processes, shoreline dynamics and coastal erosion complex interactions; shorelines and river systems linkages; new approaches (drone and video) in coastal systems monitoring; sea-level rise and subsidence interrelationships; nature-based solution; integrated and sustainable green ports concepts; and in recent times sargassum pathways. Through his research, he has emerged as one of the leading coastal geomorphologists in Africa today. His contribution to the field of coastal processes and shoreline dynamics has provided an understanding of the coastal systems in Ghana and the Bight of Benin. He collaborates extensively with several researchers in Ghana and abroad to undertake his research works. Professor Appeaning Addo’s research work in coastal erosion dynamics in Ghana and West Africa has gained global recognition and impacted significantly on coastal erosion management. It has received several citations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is the 8th most cited researcher in coastal erosion studies globally and has granted interviews on his research work on high-profile media platforms such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Aljazeera, Deutsche Welle (DW), Le Monde Afrique and the Ghana News Agency (GNA). He was also featured in a scientific documentary on climate change, which was shown during the plenary session at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21). He has to his credit 94 journal publications including Nature Climate Change, book chapters and books. He has presented the results of his research work in several conferences, seminars, and workshops globally as a keynote speaker, presenter or discussant. He has also consulted for several organizations (local and international) on coastal erosion-related issues. Some Innovative Research Works of Prof Kwasi Appeaning Addo 1. His pioneering work in developing a methodology by combining satellite remote sensing, photogrammetry, and in-situ approaches in shoreline evolution studies in data-sparse environments, opened a new chapter in this area of research globally. The approach he developed has been used in several countries for coastal erosion and shoreline morphology studies. It has also become the main source of reference in coastal erosion studies in several data-sparse countries. 2. His ground-breaking methodology in monitoring dynamic coastal systems using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) has revealed the potential of using drone technology as a tool for effective communication of coastal hazards and coastal disaster management. The Canadian Geographic in 2016 described his work as an “innovative research in a developing country”. Again, his research work using a drone in Ghana was used to develop teachers’ workbooks for teaching in schools in Canada. A presentation on the drone research was well received and applauded by a scientific audience at the School of Geography and the Environment, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom in 2016. This same research gave Prof. Appeaning Addo the recognition and subsequent invitation as the first African Associate Editor of the prestigious Science Advances Journal in 2019. 3. His research work on the negative effects of using hard engineering coastal defense structures to manage coastal erosion made a strong case for a rethink of developing alternative approaches to managing coastal erosion using localized soft engineering approaches. This has enhanced advocacy on managing coastal erosion with nature in the West Africa sub-region and beyond. 4. His work with colleagues from the Netherlands for the first time developed an integrated approach to sustainable port development for developing nations that embrace engineering, ecosystem services, and governance under the ‘Green Port’ concept. This innovative ‘African-specific’ design framework that integrates and optimizes ports’ environmental, economic, and public benefits is inclusive, serving both commercial and socio-economic objectives. Professor Appeaning Addo has succeeded in placing his research at the service of society and within the scope of the much-needed fusion between coastal processes and human activities, especially under sea-level rise challenges. Through his research work, he has informed various societal concerns related to marine spatial planning, sea-level rise, subsidence, coastal threats, coastal erosion dynamics, and coastal resource assessment. The issues addressed by his research are highly relevant in this critical time of climate change, especially given the necessity of developing and promoting adaptive capacities to sea-level rise along the vulnerable coasts of Ghana, the Bight of Benin, and West Africa. Grant Support: Professor Appeaning Addo has attracted significant grants from various funding agencies to the University of Ghana to support his research work. These include International Development Research Center (IDRC), British Council, Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), DANIDA, Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), National Geographic, Norwegian Government, Dutch Research Council (NWO) – WOTRO, Delta Alliance, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Past Global Changes Bern-Switzerland (PAGES), Paleontological and Scientific Trust (PAST), International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), DGIS-UNESCO-IHE Programmatic Cooperation (DUPC) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Teaching/Theses Supervision/Theses Examination: Before taking up appointment at the University of Ghana as a lecturer in 2010, Professor Appeaning Addo had teaching experience at the Accra Technical University. He also obtained significant teaching experience at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom, where he was a practical/laboratory demonstrator for the School of Civil and Geosciences. He was a Visiting Scholar to the University of Southampton in 2016 to teach coastal processes focusing on ‘Cliffed and Rocky Coasts’ as well as ‘Coastal monitoring using drones’ in the Erasmus Mundus MSc in Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management (CoMEM) program. Since 2019, he has been a Guest Lecturer in Coastal Engineering at the Africa Center of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) at the University of Cape Coast. Professor Appeaning Addo has examined 45 graduate students’ theses (PhD, MPhil, and MSc) in Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Benin, and France since 2010. He has contributed to theses supervision at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo has been a member of 32 graduate supervisory committees in the University of Ghana, the University of Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou-Benin, the University of Bordeaux in France, the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands, and UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands since 2008. He measures the successful learning of his students when they develop self-motivation and a strong desire to succeed. Therefore, it is not surprising that some of his PhD graduates are Research Fellows and Lecturers in Universities in Ghana and beyond and are continuing research activities within the coastal environment. He has supervised two (2) Post-Doctoral Research Fellows at the University of Ghana. Professor Appeaning Addo is also an External Assessor for promotion for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi; University for Development Studies, Tamale; Koforidua Technical University; Accra Technical University, and Center for Scientific and Industrial Research as well as Oceanography and Coastal Management Program Assessor for the National Accreditation Board. Extension Activities: Professor Appeaning Addo has served as a member of statutory boards and ad-hoc committees in the University of Ghana since 2010. He has also served in several capacities at both national and international levels. He was the Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences from 2015 to 2018, Acting Chair of the International Programmes Office (IPO) Advisory Board in 2021, member of the University Academic Board, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) Academic Board, the Office of Research and Innovation (ORID) Board, the School of Graduate Studies Board, the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) Management Committee, and currently the Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS). He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Methodist University College and the Group of Experts for the Third Cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (Regular Process); He also serves as an Associate member of UNESCO Land Subsidence International Initiative (LaSII) and member of the following bodies: the Expert Group of the High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economy involving 14 Heads of State; the International Pool of Marine Experts, United Nations (UN) Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; and the Scientific Committee of the World Bank WACA project in Ghana. Additionally, he is the Technical Advisor to the Scientific Committee of the West African Coast Observation Mission (WACOM) and Convener of the Sargassum Network in West Africa. Professor Appeaning Addo was an Advisor to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Coastal Erosion – Republic of Ghana in 2010; and a Member of the Laboratory Equipment and Appointments Committee of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development – Somanya in 2019 and 2020.
Enhancing Satellite Oceanography-Driven Research in West Africa: a Case Study of Capacity Development in an Underserved Region
(Remote Sensing in Earth Systems Sciences, 2021) Nyadjro, E.S.; Mahu, E.; Addo, K.A.; et al.
Marine business and resources play a major role in the economics and way of life in coastal West African countries. Such countries see great profitability from their marine resources while also facing challenges that come with a bordering sea. Despite Due to this fact, there has been limited research into the optimal way for West African Coastal States to coexist with and sustainably use their marine resources, a research deficit that is mainly due to a lack of infrastructure for in-situ work, lack of capacity development, and comprehensive datasets to undertake oceanographic research. The Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana (COESSING; www.coessing.org) was developed to help meet some of these challenges. Each summer since 2015, ocean scientists (e.g., biologists, chemists, physicists, hydrologists) from the USA and Europe have collaborated with West African colleagues to lead a week-long intensive summer school in Accra, Ghana, alternating in location between the Regional Maritime University and the University of Ghana. The school receives in excess of 100 participants drawn from universities, government agencies, and private sector organizations, mainly from Ghana and neighboring Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, and Benin, among others. The format of the school includes morning lectures, afternoon field trips, hands-on laboratory exercises and one-on-one coaching of students. Important to the COESSING program is the satellite oceanography component, which introduces participants to the extensive and often free, remotely sensed oceanographic datasets. Participants develop skills that allow them to access, process, and analyze these datasets in order to better understand regional oceanographic phenomena, such as upwelling, pollution, habitat characterization, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. Following school, facilitators keep in touch with program participants, helping them acquire and analyze data for their studies, dissertations, and often graduate school applications, etc. In summary, schools such as COESSING are critical not only for science in the region but for the global ocean community as such training develops eager, bright minds while leading to improved regional observation and modeling strategies in severely under-sampled seas. Here, we describe a unique case in which satellite oceanography has led to such outcomes for countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa
Global survey shows planners use widely varying sea-level rise projections for coastal adaptation
(COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT, 2023) Hirschfeld, D.; Addo, K.A.; et al.
Including sea-level rise (SLR) projections in planning and implementing coastal adaptation is crucial. Here we analyze the first global survey on the use of SLR projections for 2050 and 2100. Two-hundred and fifty-three coastal practitioners engaged in adaptation/planning from 49 countries provided complete answers to the survey which was distributed in nine languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. While recognition of the threat of SLR is almost universal, only 72% of respondents currently utilize SLR projections. Generally, developing countries have lower levels of utilization. There is no global standard in the use of SLR projections: for locations using a standard data structure, 53% are planning using a single projection, while the remainder are using multiple projections, with 13% considering a low-probability high-end scenario. Countries with histories of adaptation and consistent national support show greater assimilation of SLR projections into adaptation decisions. This research provides new insights about current planning practices and can inform important ongoing efforts on the application of the science that is essential to the promotion of effective adaptation.
The Grand Popo beach 2013 experiment, Benin, West Africa: From short timescale processes to their integrated impact over long-term coastal evolution
(Journal of Coastal Research, 2014) Almar, R.; Hounkonnou, N.; Anthony, E.J.; Castelle, B.; Senechal, N.; Laibi, R.; Mensah-Senoo, T.; Degbe, G.; Quenum, M.; Dorel, M.; Chuchla, R.; Lefebvre, J.-P.; Penhoat, Y.D.; Laryea, W.S.; Zodehougan, G.; Sohou, Z.; Addo, K.A.; Ibaceta, R.; Kestenare, E.
The first large nearshore field experiment in the Gulf of Guinea was conducted at Grand Popo Beach, Benin, in February 2013, on an open wave-dominated micro- to meso-tidal coast, located mid-way between Cotonou and Lome harbours. The overall project aims at understanding at multi-scale (from event to interannual) the causes of the dramatic erosion observed throughout the Bight of Benin, and caused by the interaction of a large littoral drift with human engineering works. Grand Popo 2013 experiment was designed to measure the processes over the short term and to test the ability of an installed video system to monitor the evolution of this stretch of coast over the longer term. The beach, characterized by a low-tide terrace and a high tide reflective part, experiences a long swell (Hs=1.6 m, Tp=16 s, oblique incidence ∼15-20°). Topographic surveys showed a double beach cusp system interaction and repeated surf-zone drifter runs revealed high flash and swash rip activity driven by wave dissipation over the terrace and energetic swash dynamics at the upper reflective beach. Swash was measured over a cusp system at two locations using video poles. Wave reanalyses (ERAInterim) were used to determine the wave climate and its variability, and to quantify sediment transport. This robust methodology is thought to be replicated elsewhere in different coastal environments in West Africa, in particular with the objective to monitor various sites within the framework of the new West African Coastal Observatory. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2014.
Identifying Ecosystem-Based Alternatives for the Design of a Seaport’s Marine Infrastructure: The Case of Tema Port Expansion in Ghana
(sustainability, 2019-11-23) Addo, K.A.; De Boer, W.P.; Slinger, J.H.; wa Kangeri, A.K.; Vreugdenhil, H.S.I.; Taneja, P.; Vellinga, T.
Long-term sustainable port development requires accounting for the intrinsic values of ecosystems. However, in practice, ecosystem considerations often only enter the planning and design process of ports when required by an Environmental Impact Assessment. At this late stage, most of the design is already fixed and opportunities to minimize and restore ecosystem impacts are limited. In this paper, we adopt a large-scale, ecosystem perspective on port development with the aim to identify ecosystem-based design alternatives earlier and throughout the planning and design of a port’s marine infrastructure. We present a framework, termed the ‘ecosystem-based port design hierarchy’ (EPDH), to identify ecosystem-based alternatives at four hierarchical design levels: 1) alternatives to port developments, 2) port site selection, 3) port layout design, and 4) design of structures and materials. In applying the EPDH framework retrospectively to a case study of port expansion in Tema, Ghana, we establish that ecosystem considerations played only a limited role in identifying and evaluating alternatives at all four design levels in the case study, whereas more eco-friendly alternatives in terms of port layouts, structures, and materials are identified using the EPDH framework. This reveals that opportunities for ecosystem-friendly port designs may have been missed and demonstrates the need for and the potential added value of our framework. The framework can assist practitioners in earlier and wider identification of ecosystem-based alternatives for a port’s marine infrastructure in future seaport developments and, hence, represents an important step towards more sustainable port designs.
Identifying Ecosystem-Based Alternatives for the Design of a Seaport’s Marine Infrastructure: The Case of Tema Port Expansion in Ghana
(Sustainability, 2019) Boer, W.P.; Addo, K.A.; Slinger, J.H.; et al.
Long-term sustainable port development requires accounting for the intrinsic values of ecosystems. However, in practice, ecosystem considerations often only enter the planning and design process of ports when required by an Environmental Impact Assessment. At this late stage, most of the design is already fixed and opportunities to minimize and restore ecosystem impacts are limited. In this paper, we adopt a large-scale, ecosystem perspective on port development with the aim to identify ecosystem-based design alternatives earlier and throughout the planning and design of a port’s marine infrastructure. We present a framework, termed the ‘ecosystem-based port design hierarchy’ (EPDH), to identify ecosystem-based alternatives at four hierarchical design levels: 1) alternatives to port developments, 2) port site selection, 3) port layout design, and 4) design of structures and materials. In applying the EPDH framework retrospectively to a case study of port expansion in Tema, Ghana, we establish that ecosystem considerations played only a limited role in identifying and evaluating alternatives at all four design levels in the case study, with more eco-friendly alternatives in terms of port layouts, structures, and materials are identified using the EPDH framework. This reveals that opportunities for ecosystem-friendly port designs may have been missed and demonstrates the need for and the potential added value of our framework. The framework can assist practitioners in earlier and wider identification of ecosystem-based alternatives for a port’s marine infrastructure in future seaport developments and, hence, represents an important step towards more sustainable port designs.
Impacts of coastal inundation due to climate change in a CLUSTER of urban coastal communities in Ghana, West Africa
(Remote Sensing, 2011-12) Addo, K.A.; Larbi, L.; Amisigo, B.; Ofori-Danson, P.K.
The increasing rates of sea level rise caused by global warming within the 21st century are expected to exacerbate inundation and episodic flooding tide in low-lying coastal environments. This development threatens both human development and natural habitats within such coastal communities. The impact of sea level rise will be more pronounced in developing countries where there is limited adaptation capacity. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the expected impacts of sea level rise in three communities in the Dansoman coastal area of Accra, Ghana. Future sea level rises were projected based on global scenarios and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization General Circulation Models-CSIRO_MK2_GS GCM. These were used in the SimCLIM model based on the modified Bruun rule and the simulated results overlaid on near vertical aerial photographs taken in 2005. It emerged that the Dansoman coastline could recede by about 202 m by the year 2100 with baseline from 1970 to 1990. The potential impacts on the socioeconomic and natural systems of the Dansoman coastal area were characterized at the Panbros, Grefi and Gbegbeyise communities. The study revealed that about 84% of the local dwellers is aware of the rising sea level in the coastal area but have poor measures of adapting to the effects of flood disasters. Analysis of the likely impacts of coastal inundation revealed that about 650,000 people, 926 buildings and a total area of about 0.80 km2 of land are vulnerable to permanent inundation by the year 2100. The study has shown that there will be significant losses to both life and property by the year 2100 in the Dansoman coastal community in the event of sea level rise. © 2011 by the authors.
Informed selfishness – Practical reflections on building a sustainable ocean economy
(Marine Policy, 2021) Addo, K.A.; Adeyemo, O.; Adewumi, I.J.; Blasiak, R.; Juniper, S.K.; Owens, D.; Owens, T.; Sumaila, U.R.
In September 2018, a group of 14 Heads of States and Governments from all regions of the world came together to create the High Level Panel (HLP) for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (SOE). The HLP is co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Norway and the President of Palau. Simply put, the HLP seeks to ensure a SOE worldwide. In February 2021, the #VirtualBlueDecade initiative convened a panel of ocean practitioners from both the Global South and Global North to reflect on practical ways to build a SOE. Here, we present a summary of the key issues discussed by the panel, grouped around five topics: (i) words do initiate actions; (ii) goal setting is an important step in achieving a SOE; (iii) unsustainable practices are no longer justifiable as necessary evils for funding or obtaining social license for the transformation to a SOE; (iv) scientists must learn to communicate with policy makers; and (v) support South-South cooperation. We conclude that to achieve a SOE, the concept of “Informed Selfishness” should be considered as a guiding principle for developing policies and implementing sustainability actions.
Medium resolution satellite imagery as a tool for monitoring shoreline change. Case study of the Eastern coast of Ghana
(Journal of Coastal Research, 2013-03) Jayson-Quashigah, P.-N.; Addo, K.A.; Kodzo, K.S.
Shoreline change analysis provides important information upon which most coastal zone management and intervention policies rely. Such information is however mostly scarce for large and inaccessible shorelines largely due to expensive field work. This study investigated the potential of medium resolution satellite imagery for mapping shoreline positions and for estimating historic rate of change. Both manual and semi-automatic shoreline extraction methods for multi-spectral satellite imageries were explored. Five shoreline positions were extracted for 1986, 1991, 2001, 2007 and 2011 covering a medium term of 25 years period. Rates of change statistics were calculated using the End Point Rate and Weighted Linear Regression methods. Approximately 283 transects were cast at simple right angles along the entire coast at 200m interval. Uncertainties were quantified for the shorelines ranging from ± 4.1m to ± 5.5m. The results show that the Keta shoreline is a highly dynamic feature with average rate of erosion estimated to be about 2m/year ± 0.44m. Individual rates along some transect reach as high as 16m/year near the estuary and on the east of the Keta Sea Defence site. The study confirms earlier rates of erosion calculated for the area and also reveals the influence of the Keta Sea Defence Project on erosion along the eastern coast of Ghana. The research shows that shoreline change can be estimated using medium resolution satellite imagery. © Coastal Education & Research Foundation 2013.
Misperception of drivers of risk alters willingness to adapt in the case of sargassum influxes in West Africa
(Global Environmental Change, 2024) Atiglo, D.Y.; Jayson-Quashigah, P-N.; Sowah, W.; Tompkins, E.L.; Addo, K.A.
Since 2011, large influxes of a brown macroalgae (pelagic sargassum seaweed) have proliferated across the Tropical Atlantic basin, its dispersal and seasonality theorized to be driven by localized and large scale winds and currents, in combination with changes in the Atlantic Meridional Mode and ocean upwelling. These influxes seasonally affect coastal populations across the breadth of the Tropical Atlantic (from central America to West Africa), causing damage to: economies, marine-based and non-marine coastal livelihoods, social functioning, health, ecology, and the aesthetics of the local environment. We use the ongoing sargassum influx in West Africa as a case study of adaptation to an emergent (and compound) risk in progress that also contributes to the empirical gap in sargassum adaptation research in West Africa. The research, in four sites in the Western Region of Ghana employs data from 16 focus group discussions, six key informant interviews, and participant obser vation. We finds that due to a series of coincidences, participant communities perceive that sargassum influxes were seeded by and then annually driven by oil and gas exploration in Western Ghana. This is in contrast to scientific research that indicates that pelagic sargassum was initially seeded in the tropical Atlantic basin (from the Sargasso Sea) in 2010 following an anomalous weather event in winter 2009–2010. Following Rogers’ Protection Motivation Theory, we explore the sources of information and the processing of that information to understand the divergence between scientific and community perceptions of the physical drivers. We find that community perceptions of oil and gas company responsibility for causing the sargassum problem leads the communities to perceive that the oil and gas companies should be responsible for the clean-up activities. Communities are further constrained by a perceived lack of capacity to act. Solutions to address this adaptation impasse could involve the government working with communities and the oil and gas industry to clarify the actual drivers of sargassum. Such guidance may open opportunities for the government and industry to work with communities to address misperceptions of the scientific nature of the influxes. Collaborative approaches, while addressing extant tensions, may also change the narrative about the problem, support affected commu nities to engage with adaptive measures, including re-use opportunities, and enhance community capacity to act. As a present-day emergent risk, pelagic sargassum provides an unusual yet contemporary empirical study of real time adaptation and the central role of perceptions in shaping proactive adaptation and seeking exploitable opportunities from new environmental risks.