Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Geoenvironmental Disasters
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-020-00151-1
RESEARCH Open Access
Assessment of the dynamics of the Volta
river estuary shorelines in Ghana
K. Appeaning Addo*, E. K. Brempong and P. N. Jayson-Quashigah
Abstract
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.
Keywords: Coastal erosion, Volta estuary, Shoreline change, Disaster risk, Vulnerability
Introduction communities along the estuary shorelines. The risk level
Estuarine shorelines are naturally dynamic and continu- will be high in vulnerable coastal communities and cities
ously shaped by natural and anthropogenic factors (Bio et in developing nations where there is paucity of data and
al. 2015; Appeaning Addo et al. 2008; Jayson-Quashigah et early warning systems are limited. Developing disaster risk
al. 2019). These factors combine to increase pressure on reduction strategies for vulnerable communities will re-
the estuarine systems, the coastal environment and coastal quire understanding into the levels of vulnerability and
cities. Climate change induced oceanographic conditions the factors that increase the hazards. Disaster risk reduc-
(including sea level rise) is expected to increase coastal tion reflects the systematic development and application
erosion and flooding hazards associated with estuarine of policies, strategies and practices to minimize vulnerabil-
shoreline dynamics (Arthurton et al. 2000). This will affect ities, hazards and the unfolding disaster impacts (Mercer
the ecosystem services the estuaries provide and increase et al. 2010). It is significant to understand the dynamics of
the risk of exposure to these hazards in vulnerable the drivers of hazards and how they influence risk in vul-
nerable communities, especially in developing countries
where adaptation options are limited. Various methods
* Correspondence: kappeaningaddo@ug.edu.gh
Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, College of Basic and Applied have been developed to monitor the evolution trend of the
Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box Lg 99, Legon, Accra, Ghana biophysical drivers of hazards and determine how they
© The Author(s). 2020 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,
which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give
appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if
changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons
licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons
licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain
permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 2 of 11
combine to increase risk in vulnerable communities considered as the close-out depth for significant wave-
(Appeaning Addo et al. 2008; Graham et al. 2003; Leather- induced sediment movement on this coast (Rossi 1989;
man et al. 2005). Anthony 2015). The Volta River historically carried large
Monitoring the geometry of the estuarine shoreline quantities of sediment, including coarse-grained sand, to
morphology is key to understanding the evolution trend the sea and this sediment was deposited at the river
in the estuarine shoreline position over time and how it mouth, forming the modern delta (Nairn et al. 1999).
impacts the environment (Oyedotun 2014). It also reveals The delta front is shaped by the action of the ocean
how estuarine shorelines are responding to climatic and waves, which is influenced by the nearshore bathymetry
anthropogenic induced stressors that have the potential to and the shoreline orientation. Unimpeded swell waves of
result in environmental hazards. Geographical Informa- moderate to high energy with an average height of about
tion Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing approach in map- 1.4 m (m) and a long period of about 11 s (s) approach
ping high erosion risk zones have increased accuracy in the shoreline from the south-south west (Almar et al.
feature identification, feature extraction and change detec- 2015; Angnuureng et al. 2016). The energy dissipated
tion in coastal zones significantly (Natesan et al. 2015; when the waves break generate longshore currents that
Kannan et al. 2016; Van and Binh 2008). They also help in transport sediment alongshore from west to east, which
collecting data from inaccessible and rapidly changing or causes one of the highest rates of annual unidirectional
hazardous environment (Wiafe et al. 2013). Such informa- longshore sediment drift in the world (1–1.5× 106 m3/
tion is relevant in effective management of resources in yr) (Nairn et al. 1999). Tides are semi-diurnal with a
vulnerable areas within the coastal environment as well as tidal range of about 1 m and generate weak currents that
developing a framework for disaster management. This have limited effect on the shoreline morphology
paper presents results of Volta estuary shoreline morpho- (Appeaning Addo et al. 2008). Figure 2 shows the Volta
logical change assessment from 1895 to 2015 within the delta and the 5 m contour delta boundary.
Volta delta region in Ghana. For this paper, shoreline will The Volta River’s discharge varied between 1000 m3/s
be used to represent the riverine side of the coast while in the dry season and over 6000m3/s in the wet season
coastline will be used to represent the marine side of the before the construction of the Akosombo Dam in 1964
coast. (Anthony et al. 2016). Two other dams were constructed
at Kpong in 1982 and Bui in 2013 (see Fig. 1), which
The Volta delta have further affected the discharge rate. Runoff before
The Volta River basin covers about 400,000 km2 (Van de the Akosombo dam construction was higher (87.5 mm/
Giesen et al. 2010). The river basin is a trans-national yr) and more varied than the post-dam period with value
catchment shared by six riparian countries (Fig. 1). The of 73.5 mm/yr (Oguntunde et al. 2006). Given that water
watershed is 40% in Ghana, 42% in Burkina Faso, 6% in flow is now controlled, the system dynamics in the estu-
Togo, 5% in Mali, 4% in Benin and 3% in Côte d’Ivoire ary has also changed with regards to flow and sedimen-
(Oguntunde et al. 2006). The Volta River has three main tation. The yearly sediment transport before the dam
tributaries namely the White Volta, the Black Volta and the construction was about 7.5 million m3/s (Bollen et al.
Oti River (Ibrahim et al. 2016). It is one of the main sources 2011). Since the construction of the Akosombo dam,
of sediment supply to the Gulf of Guinea (Goussard and there are no peaks in flow discharge and the sediment
Ducrocq 2014). The river drains a predominantly sandstone transport is reduced to only a fraction of the original
catchment that also includes a wide variety of lithologic ter- transport (Bollen et al. 2011). This dramatic reduction in
ranes covering an area of about 390,000km2 (Anthony sediment supply to the delta system has affected the evo-
2015). The Volta River presently has a single outlet channel lution of the delta and exacerbated coastal erosion in the
to the sea at Ada, which is associated with a relatively large deltaic region (Armah 1991; Allersma and Tilmans 1993).
spit. The large spit is as result of a direct outgrowth of a Erosion in the Volta Delta was first reported in 1929 but
natural change in the location of the mouth of the river posited to have existed since the 1860s, particularly in
(Anthony et al. 2016). Keta (Nairn et al. 1999). Ly (1981) estimated that the
Located at the lower portion of the basin is the Volta coastline in Keta (east of the estuary) was eroding at a rate
delta, which is defined as the 5 m contour within the between 4 and 8m/yr, while Boller et al. (2011) reported
Accra-Ho-Keta Plains (Appeaning Addo et al. 2018). that the coastline in Totope – Ada (west of the estuary) is
The geology is of the Volta Delta is generally Quaternary receding at a rate of about 6m/yr. Appeaning Addo
which is made up of alluvial sand, silt and clay (Jayson- (2015) identified significant changes in the coastline im-
Quashigah et al. 2013). The delta coast is bounded by a mediately to the east of the estuary and concluded that
narrow shelf 15–33 km wide, and characterised by a the hydrodynamics of the estuary could affect the estuary
fairly uniform, moderately steep shoreface with a gradi- shorelines. The study estimated the mean erosion in the
ent of between 1:120 and 1:150 down to 15m, which is Volta delta coastline as 1.86m/yr (Appeaning Addo 2015).
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 3 of 11
Fig. 1 Map of the Volta Basin showing the riparian countries, the Volta River, upstream catchment management, the Volta delta and the
tributaries. (Source: adapted from Rodgers et al., 2006 and Appeaning Addo et al. 2018)
It is estimated that by 1996, more than half of Keta buildings between the Keta Lagoon and the sea, con-
and its surrounding towns were under water due to in- struction of a causeway across the Keta lagoon for the
creased rate of erosion and flooding (Ile et al., 2014), dis- coastal highway, reclamation of lands lost to the sea and
placing about 500,000 people in communities within construction of houses for resettlement of displaced
Keta and leading to losses in millions of Ghana Cedis people (Boateng 2009; Danquah et al. 2014). Although
(Danquah et al. 2014). The Keta and Ada Sea Defence the Keta sea defence project has been successful as bea-
Projects were undertaken by the Ghana government in ches have been built and the artisanal fishing activities
2001 and 2013 respectively to manage the impacts of restored (Angnuureng et al. 2013), it has resulted in in-
erosion and flooding on the coastal communities. The creased erosion on the down-drift side of the coast
Keta defence project included the construction of six Appeaning Addo 2015; Wiafe et al. 2013; Angnuureng et
groynes to prevent erosion and to control flooding of al. 2013). The erosion problems has therefore been
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 4 of 11
Fig. 2 Volta delta showing the 5 m contour and the administrative districts (Source: Appeaning Addo et al. 2018)
transferred to the eastern side of the coast which has re- Methodology
sulted in destruction of properties and households Materials for this study were obtained from various
sources of income (Angnuureng et al. 2013). The gov- sources. They include satellite images (Landsat 1990,
ernment has initiated another sea defence project along 2000 and 2005 pan sharpened to a resolution of 15 m)
the eroding coast using groynes to manage the erosion obtained from United States Geological Survey (USGS)
and flooding problems as well as protect the vulnerable as well as historic (1895) and orthophoto (2015) maps
communities. Recent coastal erosion mitigation and obtained from the survey and mapping division of the
adaptation measures along the Volta delta coast have Ghana Lands Commission. The data spanned a period
been preceded by attempts by the communities to pro- of 120 years, which can be classified as long term.
tect the coastline in Keta and its environs since 1923, Figure 4 shows samples of orthophoto (2005) and satel-
which were not successful (Akyeampong 2001). The fail- lite image (2015) respectively.
ures were because the materials used for the defence The estuarine shoreline positions and the marine
work could not withstand the strong waves (Akyeampong coastlines were identified as the water-land boundary
2001; van der Linden et al. 2013). The government in represented by the high water mark, and digitized in a
1960 undertook coastal protection project in Keta using GIS environment. The marine coastlines were about 15
steel sheets to protect about 1600m of the Keta Township km to the west and 10 km to the east of the estuary inlet.
but these corroded not long after (van der Linden et al. The shoreline and coastline rates of change were com-
2013). Fig. 3 shows the impact of coastal erosion along the puted using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System
Volta delta coast in two highly vulnerable communities, (DSAS), an extension to ESRI ArcGIS. DSAS was devel-
Fuvemeh and Ada, which are experiencing varying inten- oped to produce digital shoreline position data from his-
sity of erosion and flooding that has resulted in property torical maps, charts and photographs (Thieler et al.
destruction, loss of sources of livelihoods and displace- 2009). The extension contains three main components
ment of households (Appeaning Addo et al. 2018). that define a baseline, generate orthogonal transects at a
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 5 of 11
Fig. 3 Destruction at Fuveme and Ada due to increased erosion
user defined separation along the coast and calculate map; digitization of the estuarine shoreline and the
rates of change. It utilizes the avenue code to develop coastline positions from both the satellite and the ortho-
transects and rates, and uses the avenue programming photo maps; and photogrammetric error for developing
environment to automate and customize the user inter- the orthophoto maps. An overall shoreline positional
face (Morton et al. 2004). Shapefiles of the input data error for each epoch (Ex) was therefore calculated using
(shorelines) were managed in a personal geodatabase the following equation:
and appended to one shapefile for the rates of change
qffiffiffiffiffi
estimation. A baseline, which served as the starting point Ex ¼ E2 2 2d þ Ep þ Epm
for the rates computation was digitized offshore by mim-
icking the 1895 shoreline position and perpendicular where Ed is the error occurring from scale digitizing,
transects cast at 50 m intervals. The 50m intervals were Epm is the photogrammetric error and Ep is the planeta-
selected to cover more areas to increase the accuracy in ble survey error. This approach carries the assumption
the rates computed (Appeaning Addo et al. 2008). A that component errors are normally distributed (Dar and
total of 1338 transects were cast along the coastline from Dar 2009).
east to west, 273 transects for the western estuarine The total uncertainties were used as weights in the
shoreline and 211 transects for the eastern estuarine shoreline change calculations. The values were annual-
shoreline. Linear regression rate of change statistic ized to provide error estimation for the shoreline change
method in DSAS was adopted for this study. Linear re- rate at any given transect and expressed as:
gression is robust, allows supplemental statistics to be
computed and is efficient when a limited number of √E21 þ E22 þ E23 þ E24
shorelines is available (Thieler et al. 2009). The average Ea ¼ T
rate of changes (erosion and accretion) were computed
for the all shorelines. Sources of uncertainty were identi- where E1,E2, E3 and E4 are the total shoreline position
fied and quantified. They include errors as a result of error for the various years and T is the 120 years period
planetable survey used to generate the 1895 historic of analysis.
Fig. 4 Sample of 2005 Orthophoto and 2015 satellite imagery
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 6 of 11
Results significantly (Appeaning Addo et al. 2018). Within the
Changing trend in the shoreline positions were observed period under study, the overall average rate of erosion
for both the marine and estuarine sides, i.e. eastern and on the marine coastline is about 0.79 ± 0.24 m/yr while
western, for the 120 year period. Figure 5 shows portions the average rate of accretion is about 1.24 ± 0.24 m/yr.
of the merged five shoreline positions for 1895, 1990, The eastern part of the marine coastline is eroding at an
2000, 2005, and 2015 along the coast. Figure 6 shows average rate of about 2.19 ± 0.24 m/yr while the average
overlay of the cast perpendicular transect lines on the rate of accretion is about 1.37 ± 0.24 m/yr. The western
merged shoreline positions for the rates of change com- side of the marine coastline is eroding at an average rate
putation and Table 1 presents the rates of change com- of about 0.62 ± 0.242 m/yr and the average rate of accre-
puted for the various sections. Figure 7 is a graph of tion is about 0.33 ± 0.24 m/yr. On the other hand, the
erosion and accretion trends along the coast, while eastern estuarine side is eroding at an average rate of
Figs. 8 and 9 are graphs of evolution trend on the west- about 1.94 ± 0.24 m/yr while the rate of accretion is
ern and eastern estuarine sides respectively. about 0.16 ± 0.24m/year. The western estuarine shore-
line is eroding at an average rate of about 0.85 ± 0.24 m/
Discussion yr with an average rate of accretion of about 0.14 ± 0.24
The study has revealed the evolution trend along the es- m/yr. The coastal erosion hot spots identified include
tuary shoreline and the marine coastline in the Volta Ningo and Ada on the western coastline; and Keta,
delta. These dynamic coastal morphological features are Akpletokor, Dzita, and Blekusu on the eastern coastline
changing at varying rates and intensity. The biophysical (Jayson-Quashigah et al. 2018). These locations are ex-
changes are impacting the estuarine environment as well periencing varying intensity of erosion that are affecting
as the socioeconomic and cultural dynamics of people in the environment and the communities significantly.
the vulnerable coastal communities significantly. The Results of this study confirm observations by Ly
Volta Delta has a diverse economic system with different (1980), Appeaning Addo (2015) and Boateng (2012) who
but integrated sectors, i.e., agriculture including livestock reported that the Volta delta marine coastline is an erod-
rearing and fisheries, salt and sand mining, construction, ing coastline. Increased erosion along the coast is as a
trade, transport and tourism (Codjoe et al. 2017), which result of several factors such as controlled sediment dis-
can be affected considerably by biophysical changes in charge from the Volta River due to the construction of
the shoreline dynamics. The Volta delta coast has been the Akosombo dam (Ly 1980); oceanographic conditions
identified as a very dynamic area that is experiencing such as storm surge, energetic swell waves and subsid-
erosion, flooding and shoreline recession (Ly 1980; Boat- ence; coastal erosion management structures and urban-
eng 2009; Appeaning Addo 2015). Coastal erosion has isation (Boateng, 2009); and beach sand mining (Anim
impacted the vulnerable communities along the Volta et al. 2013). Construction of the Akosombo dam has re-
delta coast that has resulted in destruction of properties, duced the volume of sediment that flows into the ocean
displacements of households and increased poverty and resulted in sediment budget deficit (Appeaning
Fig. 5 Merged coastline positions on the marine side
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 7 of 11
Fig. 6 Transects cast along the baselines and shorelines
Addo 2015). The shoreline erodes sediment from the 2002; Syvitski et al. 2009). Although beach sand mining
coast to make up for the shortfall in sediment. The is banned in Ghana (Angnuureng et al. 2013), the prac-
problem is further aggravated by the construction of sea tice is going on as the mined sand is the main construc-
defence structures to manage erosion in Keta and Ada tion material in the communities. The practice opens up
using groynes. The groynes trap sediments that build the coast to ocean wave attacks that has the potential to
beaches on the up-drift side while the down-drift side is initiate coastal erosion.
starved of sediment that results in increased erosion Increased oceanographic activities have been reported
(Angnuureng et al. 2013). Reduced sediment supply by Appeaning Addo et al. (2018) as a major cause of ero-
from the Volta river has also affected the evolution sion and flooding in the coastal zone of the Volta delta.
process of the delta, which has resulted in subsidence. Increasing frequency in storm surge as a result of cli-
Although the rate of subsidence has not been measured mate change and sea level rise enable the relatively high
in the Volta delta, it is however suspected to be between energetic swell waves to break closer to the shore dissi-
1 mm/yr and 2mm/yr as experienced in most deltas glo- pating their energy. The energy dissipated when the
bally (Appeaning Addo et al. 2018). Lowering of the swell waves break at the shore generates longshore cur-
delta topography as a result of water extraction for irri- rents that transports sediments along shore. The coastal
gated coastal crop farming facilitates erosion in the vul- area of the Volta delta is considered as one of the high-
nerable areas as they enhance the natural subsidence est rates of annual unidirectional longshore sediment
(Ericson et al. 2006; Nicholls et al. 2016; Pont et al. drift in the world (Nairn et al. 1999) that results in sig-
nificant morphological changes in the coastline position.
Table 1 Rates of change computed for the various sections Increasing population growth and urbanisation have
Shoreline change results altered the land cover, topography and land use in the
Location Rate of Erosion Rate of Accretion delta region, thus, vegetated land has been converted
(m/yr.) (m/yr.) to agricultural use and settlements (Appeaning Addo
Along the whole shore −0.79 1.24 2015). The population density of the Volta Delta is
Eastern coastline −2.19 1.37 151 persons per km2 compared to 103 persons per
2
Western coastline −0.62 0.33 km in Ghana (Codjoe et al. 2017). Increasing urban-
East estuarine shoreline −1.94 – isation in the Volta delta will result in clearing the
coastal vegetation for construction, which will reduce
West estuarine shoreline −0.58 0.14
the natural protection the vegetation cover offer the
Uncertainty (error) ±0.24 coastal zone against erosion.
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 8 of 11
Fig. 7 Linear Regression Rate of Change along the marine side of estuary
Increased erosion in the estuarine shorelines and has increased poverty significantly and led to shift in in-
flooding in the coastal zone occur, particularly during come generating activities in the affected communities.
spillage of the Akosombo dam in Ghana and the Bagre It is estimated that about 80,000 people are directly ad-
Hydro dam in Burkina Faso (Mumuni 2016; Logah et al. versely affected by the changed conditions in the Lower
2017). The Bagre dam, which is on the White Volta Volta Basin (Logah et al. 2017). The increasing exposure
tributary of the Volta river, has water holding capacity of of the vulnerable communities to the erosion hazards
235 m (Mumuni 2016). Extra water is let out once the has resulted in some of the households migrating to
holding capacity of the Bagre dam is reached to avoid safer areas as an adaptation measure (Boateng 2009;
breaking the banks of the dam. This increases the vol- Karley 2009; Lumor 2015).
ume of water in the Akosombo dam downstream and re- Measures have been adopted by the Ghana government
sults in spillage of the Akosombo dam. Spilling of excess to manage erosion, which consist mainly of hard engineer-
water in the Akosombo dam causes flooding and erosion ing approach using groynes and revetments (Nairn and
of vulnerable communities along the Volta river. Ac- Dibajnia 2004). Significant success has been achieved with
cording to WRC (2007), it results in loss of livelihoods the approaches adopted in the locations where the struc-
and increased health risks of communities through the tures have been constructed (Jayson-Quashigah et al.
loss of agriculture and fishing activities and increases 2018). The areas estimated to be accreting by this study
cases of malaria and urinary schistosomiasis, as well as are locations with coastal defence structures constructed
appearance of intestinal schistosomiasis. The situation to manage coastal erosion. Angnuureng et al. (2013) and
Fig. 8 Shoreline change for the western estuarine of the Volta estuary
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 9 of 11
Fig. 9 Shoreline change for the eastern estuarine of the Volta estuary
Appeaning Addo (2015) reported that the Keta sea de- IDRC: International Development Research Centre; DFID: Department for
fence project has reduced the rate of erosion along the international Development; CARIAA: Collaborative Adaptation Research
Initiative in Africa and Asia
Keta coast significantly and resulted in accretion along
portions of the marine coastline. This is evident in Anloga Acknowledgements
and Woe where the beaches are building up at a relatively This study was carried out under the Collaborative Adaptation Research
Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA), with financial support from the UK
fast rate (Appeaning Addo 2015). However, studies by Government’s Department for International Development (DFiD) and the
Angnuureng et al. (2013) concluded that the defence International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
structures have transferred the erosion problems down-
drift of the coastline. The hard engineering methods may Authors’ contributionsKAA designed the project, data analysis, contributed to writing and
therefore not be the appropriate management option for reviewing the paper. EKB did the field work, data analysis, contributed to
erosion management along the Volta delta coast. writing and editing the paper. PNJQ contributed to the field work, data
analysis, writing and editing the paper. The author(s) read and approved the
final manuscript.
Conclusion
The study has revealed the erosion and accretion trend in Authors’ information
N/A
the marine coastline and the estuarine shoreline along the
Volta River in Ghana. The eastern coastline on the marine Funding
side and the estuarine shoreline are eroding more than the This work was supported by the International Development Research Centre
(IDRC), Canada and the UK Government’s Department for International
western coastline and shoreline. Generally, the coastline Development (DFiD) as part of the Collaborative Adaptation Research
can be classified as an eroding coastline. The impact of Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA).
erosion, which includes displacement of communities, loss
Availability of data and materials
of livelihoods and destruction of properties are expected The data will be available at the University of Ghana library
to increase under changing climatic conditions and urban-
isation This confirms studies by (Appeaning et al. 2018), Ethics approval and consent to participate
N/A
where 685 people were displaced as well as 90 houses
destroyed in 2011 and 2008 respectively. This will have a Consent for publication
huge impact on both the local and national economy as All the co-authors consented for the publication
the government will have to settle the displaced commu- Competing interests
nities and provide adaptation options for the inhabitants. There is no competing interest.
Strategies should be developed to increase resilience of
the local people by developing disaster risk reduction Received: 5 December 2019 Accepted: 7 April 2020
framework for the vulnerable communities.
References
Abbreviations Akyeampong E (2001) Between the sea and the lagoon: an eco-social history of
DSAS: Digital Shoreline Analysis System; GIS: Geographical Information the Anlo of southeastern Ghana, c. 1850 to recent times
Systems; USGS: United States Geological Survey; DECCMA: Deltas, Allersma E, Tilmans WM (1993) Coastal conditions in West Africa—a review.
vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation; Ocean Coast Manag 19(3):199–240
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 10 of 11
Almar R, Kestenare E, Reyns J, Jouanno J, Anthony EJ, Laibi R, Ranasinghe R Ile IU, Garr EQ, Ukpere WI (2014) Monitoring infrastructure policy reforms and
(2015) Response of the Bight of Benin (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa) coastline rural poverty reduction in Ghana: the case of Keta Sea Defence Project.
to anthropogenic and natural forcing, Part1: Wave climate variability and Mediterr J Soc Sci 5(3):633–633
impacts on the longshore sediment transport. Cont Shelf Res 110:48–59 Jayson-Quashigah P-N, Addo A, Kwasi BA, Wiafe G (2019) Assessment of
Angnuureng DB, Almar R, Appeaning Addo K, Senechal N, Castelle B, Laryea SW, sediment change in the Volta Delta coast in Ghana using Unmanned Aerial
Wiafe G (2016) Video observation of waves and shoreline change on the Vehicles (Drone) approach. Ocean Coastal Manag J https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
microtidal Jamestown Beach in Ghana. In: Vila-Concejo A, Bruce E, Kennedy ocecoaman.2019.104952
DM, McCarroll RJ (eds) Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue No. 75, pp Jayson-Quashigah P-N, Appeaning Addo K, Kodzo KS (2013) Medium resolution
1022–1026 satellite imagery as a tool for monitoring shoreline change. Case study of the
Angnuureng DB, Appeaning Addo K, Wiafe G (2013) Impact of sea defense Eastern coast of Ghana. J Coast Res Spec Is 65:511–516 https://doi.org/10.
structures on downdrift coasts: the case of Keta in Ghana. Acad J Environ Sci 2112/SI65-087.1
1(6):104–121 Jayson-Quashigah P-N, Appeaning Addo K, Wiafe G, Amisigo B (2018) Assessing
Anim DO, Nkrumah PN, David NM (2013) A rapid overview of coastal erosion in. beach volume dynamics using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): A Case
Ghana. 4(2):1–7 Study of Ningo in the Volta Delta. CBAS-SDP Conefernce proceedings
Anthony EJ (2015) Patterns of sand spit development and their management Kannan R, Ramanamurthy MV, K. A. (2016) Shoreline Change Monitoring in
implications on deltaic, drift-aligned coasts: the cases of the Senegal and Nellore Coast at East Coast at Pradesh District Using Remote Sensing and
Volta River delta spits, West Africa. In: Sand and gravel spits. Springer GIS. J Fisheries Livestock Prod 153(2):2–5 https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-2608
International Publishing, Basel, pp 21–36 Karley N (2009) Flooding and physical planning in urban areas in west africa:
Anthony EJ, Almar R, Aagaard T (2016) Recent shoreline changes in the Volta situational analysis of accra, ghana. Theor Empirical Res Urban Manag 4(13):
River delta, West Africa: the roles of natural processes and human impacts. 25–41 Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24872616
Afr J Aquat Sci 41(1):81–87 Leatherman SP, Whitman D, Zhang K (2005) Airborne Laser Terrain Mapping and
Appeaning AK, Nicholls RJ, Codjoe SNA, Mumuni A (2018) A biophysical and Light Detection and Ranging. In: Schwartz ML (ed) Encyclopedia of Coastal
socio-economic review of the Volta Delta, Ghana. J Coast Res. https://doi. Science, Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, the Netherlands, pp
org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-17-00129.1 http://www.jcronline.org/doi/abs/1 21–23
0.2112/JCOASTRES-D-17-00129.1?code=cerf-site Logah FY, Amisigo AB, Obuobie E, Kankam-Yeboah K (2017) Floodplain
Appeaning Addo K (2015) Monitoring sea level rise induced hazards along the hydrodynamic modelling of the Lower Volta River in Ghana. J Hydrol 14:1–9
coast of Accra in Ghana. Nat Hazards 78(2):1293–1307 https://doi.org/10. Lumor, King, International Climate Change Policies (2015). Available at SSRN:
1007/s11069-015-1771-1 https://ssrn.com/abstract=2609787 or https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2609787
Appeaning Addo K, Walkden M, Mills JP (2008) Detection, measurement and Ly CK (1980) The role of the Akosombo Dam on the Volta river in causing coastal
prediction of shoreline recession in Accra, Ghana. J Photogram Remote erosion in central and eastern Ghana (West Africa). Mar Geol 37(3–4):323–332
Sensing 63:543–558 https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-3227(80)90108-5
Appeaning Addo K, Nicholls RJ, Codjoe SNA, Abu M (2018) A Biophysical and Ly CK (1981) Sources of beach sand from the central and eastern coasts of
Socioeconomic Review of the Volta Delta, Ghana. J Coast Res In-Press Ghana, West Africa. In: Marine Geology 44.3, pp 229–240 issn: 0025-3227.
Armah AK (1991) Coastal erosion in Ghana: Causes, patterns, research, needs and https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-3227(81)90051-7. url: http://www.sciencedirect.
possible solutions. In: Coastal Zone ‘91. ASCE, Long Beach, pp 2463–2473 com/science/article/pii/0025322781900517
Arthurton R, Korateng K, Forbes T, Snoussi M, Kitheka J, Robinson J, Monteiro P Mercer J, Kelman I, Taranis L, Suchet-Pearson S (2010) Framework for integrating
(2000) Coastal and marine environments. Environmental state-and-trends: 20- indigenous and scientific knowledge for disaster risk reduction. Disasters
year retrospective, chapter 5(2):155–191 34(1):214–239 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.03613666.2009.01126.x
Bio A, Bastos L, Granja H, Henriques R, Madeira S, Rodrigues D (2015) Methods Morton RA, Miller TA, Moore LJ (2004) National assessment of shoreline change:
for coastal monitoring and erosion risk assessment: two. Portuguese Case Part 1: Historical shoreline changes and associated coastal land loss along
Stud 15(1):47–63 https://doi.org/10.5894/rgci490 the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2004–1043,
Boateng I (2009). Development of Integrated Shoreline Management Planning: A p 44 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1043)
Case Study of Keta, Ghana Development of Integrated Shoreline Mumuni KA (2016) An Assessment Of The Effects Of The Bagre Hydro Dam
Management Planning: A Case Study of Keta , Ghana. Federation of Spillage On Ghana-Burkina Faso Relations (Doctoral dissertation, University of
International surveyors Working Week 2009 (TS 4E, Eilat, Isreal), pp. 3–8 Ghana)
Boateng I (2012) An application of GIS and coastal geomorphology for large scale Nairn RB, Dibajnia M (2004) Design and Construction of a Large Headland
assessment of coastal erosion and management: A case study of Ghana. J Coast System, Keta Sea Defence Project, West Africa. J Coast Res 33:294–314
Conserv 16(3):383–397 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-012-0209-0 Nairn RB, MacIntosh KJ, Hayes MO, Nai G, Anthonio SL, Valley WS (1999) Coastal
Bollen M, Trouw K, Lerouge F, Gruwez V, Bolle A, Hoffman B, Mercelis P (2011) erosion at Keta Lagoon, Ghana—Large scale solution to a large scale
Design of a coastal protection scheme for Ada at the Volta-River mouth problem. Coast Eng 1998:3192–3205
(Ghana). Coastal Eng Proc 1(32):36 Natesan U, Parthasarathy A, Vishnunath R, Kumar GEJ, Ferrer VA (2015)
Codjoe SNA, Nyamedor HF, Sward J, Dovie DB (2017) Environmental hazards and Monitoring Longterm Shoreline Changes along Tamil Nadu, India Using
migration intentions in a coastal area in Ghana: a case of sea flooding. Popul Geospatial Techniques. Aquatic Procedia 4(Icwrcoe):325–332 https://doi.org/
Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-017-0284-0 10.1016/j.aqpro.2015.02.044
Danquah JA, Attippoe JA, Ankrah JS (2014) Assessment of residential satisfaction Nicholls RJ, Hutton CW, Lázár AN, Allan A, Adger WN, Adams H, Salehin M (2016)
in the resettlement towns of the Keta Basin in Ghana. Int J Civil Engin Integrated assessment of social and environmental sustainability dynamics in the
Construc Estate Manag 2(3):26–45 Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, Bangladesh. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 183:370–381
Dar IA, Dar MA (2009) Prediction of Shoreline Recession Using Geospatial Oguntunde P, Friesen J, van de Giesen N, Savenije HHG (2006) Hydroclimatology
Technology: A Case Study of Chennai Coast, Tamil Nadu, India. J Coast Res of the Volta River basin in West Africa:Trends and variability from 1901 to
25(6):1276–1286 2002. Phys Chem Earth 31(18):1180–1188
Ericson JP, Vörösmarty CJ, Dingman SL, Ward LG, Meybeck M (2006) Effective sea- Oyedotun TDT (2014) Shoreline Geometry: DSAS as a Tool for Historical Trend
level rise and deltas: causes of change and human dimension implications. Analysis. Geomorphological Techniques (Online Edition) 2:1–12
Glob Planet Chang 50(1):63–82 Pont D, Day JW, Hensel P, Franquet E, Torre F, Rioual P, Ibanez C, Coulet E (2002)
Goussard JJ, Ducrocq M (2014) West African coastal area: Challenges and outlook. Response scenarios for the deltaic plain of the Rhone in the face of an
In: Diop S, Barusseau JP, Descamps C (eds) The Land/Ocean Interactions in accelerated rate of sea-level rise with special attention to Salicornia-type
the Coastal Zone of West and Central Africa. Springer, Cham, pp 9–21 environments. Estuaries 25:337–358
Graham D, Sault M, Bailey JC (2003) National Ocean Service Shoreline - Past, Rodgers C, van de Giesen N, Laube W, Vlek PL, Youkhana E (2006) The GLOWA
Present, and Future. J Coast Res SI(38):14–32 Volta Project: A framework for water resources decision-making and scientific
Ibrahim B, Wisser D, Barry B, Fowe T, Aduna A (2016) Hydrological predictions for capacity building in a transnational West African basin. In: Integrated
small ungauged watersheds in the Sudanian zone of the Volta basin in West assessment of water resources and global change. Springer, Netherlands, pp
Africa. J Hydrol 4:386–397 295–313
Appeaning Addo et al. Geoenvironmental Disasters            (2020) 7:19 Page 11 of 11
Rossi G (1989) L'érosion du littoral dans le Golfe du Bénin: un exemple de
perturbation d'un équilibre morphodynamique. Z Geomorphol, N F Suppl
Band 73:139–165
Syvitski JP, Kettner AJ, Overeem I, Hutton EW, Hannon MT, Brakenridge GR,
Nicholls RJ (2009) Sinking deltas due to human activities. Nat Geosci 2(10):
681–686 https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo629
Thieler ER, Himmelstoss EA, Zichichi JL, Ergul A (2009) Digital Shoreline Analysis
System (DSAS) version 4.0-An Ar- cGIS extension for calculating shoreline
change, US Geologi- cal Survey Open File Report 2008–1278, US Geological
Survey, USA
Van de Giesen N, Liebe J, Jung G (2010) Adapting to climate Change in the Volta
Basin, West Africa. Curr Sci 98(8):1033–1037
van der Linden WJM, Cloetingh SAPL, Kaasschieter JPH, Vandenberghe J, van de
Graaff WJE, van der Gun, J. A. M. (Eds.). (2013) Coastal lowlands: Geology and
geotechnology. Springer Science & Business Media
Van TT, Binh TT (2008) Shoreline Change Detection to Serve Sustainable
Management of Coastal Zone in Cuu Long Estuaries. In: International
Symposium on Geoinformatics for Spatial Infrastructure Development in
Earth and Allied Sciences, pp 1–6
Wiafe G, Boateng I, Appeaning Addo K, Quashigah PN, Ababio SD, Laryea S
(2013) Handbook of Coastal Processes and Management in Ghana. The Choir
Press, Gloucestershire
WRC (2007) Water Resources Commission Annual Report. WRC, Accra
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional affiliations.