Coastal erosion in ghana: Causes and effects

Abstract

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.