Assessment of Litter on the Banks of Some Selected Lagoons along the Eastern Coast of Ghana

Abstract

Apart from contributing to the degradation of lagoons, litter on the banks of coastal lagoons reduces their aesthetic values and denies them of their functions in ecosystem conservation and sustainability – a condition that results in the disappearance of coastal lagoon. The main objective of the study is to assess the litter load on the banks of coastal lagoons (Kpeshie, Mukwei, Sakumo II, Gao and the Keta) located along the eastern coast of Ghana over a six month period (i.e. from July to December).To achieve the objective, a 50 x 100 m (5000 m2) belt transect was surveyed along the banks of each lagoon to assess the volume, composition, diversity and sources of the litter. The most prevalent litter type identified was further examined to conclude on the appropriate management strategies. The perceptions of the public on the litter load were also evaluated. Close to 4.9 tonnes of debris was collected from the five lagoons over the six month study period. Litter abundance across the sites was observed to decrease from the west to the east in the order of Kpeshie > Mukwei > Gao > Sakumo II > Keta whereas the monthly litter abundance was also in order of July > November > October > September > August > December. Litter diversity at the study sites also followed the order of Gao > Mukwei > Kpeshie > Keta > Sakumo II. Lagoon debris was mainly from public related and land based sources. Plastic litter formed the most abundant and diverse litter type on the banks of all the lagoons. People of all ages litter when found around the lagoons but while those aged between 18 -25 years were the most culpable, those aged 35 years and above were found to be more environmentally responsible. A multivariate cluster analysis was also conducted to further establish the relationship, associations or linkages between the occurrences of the individual types of plastic litter at the various sites in terms of their frequency and abundance based on which management strategies to address the litter accumulation problem on the banks of coastal lagoons were recommended.