Climate Change & Energy
Assets at risk as sea erosion threatens two-thirds of Ghana’s coastline – Hydrological Authority warns
Source: myjoyonline.com - July 17, 2024
Fort Kongenstein in Ada has been completely submerged by the Atlantic Ocean. The stump of nearby local primary school flattened by the destructive Atlantic Ocean. Image by Richard A. Abbey. Ghana, 2022.
Some key assets along Ghana’s coastline are at risk of destruction due to worsening sea erosion, according to the Ghana Hydrological Authority.
The Authority, which issued the warning is calling for urgent action to save these vital state assets.
According to the Authority, two-thirds of the country’s coastline needs urgent protection against key erosion to save these critical national assets.
Speaking at a media briefing, the CEO of the Authority, Dr John Kissi revealed that about 370 kilometres of the 550 kilometres coastline is vulnerable and needs immediate attention.
The assets at risk according to him include the Aboadze Power Enclave, St. Augustine SHS, Denu-Alao Highway, and Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College, among others.
“Now, within that 290-kilometre stretch, there are various important national assets at risk that need urgent action to protect them. We can talk of the Aboadze Power Enclave, where we have thermal plants that need protection, to safeguard in all together about 730 megawatts.
“We have important strategic roads in Cape Coast where we have the Accra-Takoradi road at risk, along with our educational institutions like St. Augustine SHS, UCC and the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College.
He called for private-public partnerships to invest heavily in coastal and climate adaptation and management strategies to mitigate the threat.
He however appealed to members of the public to avoid sand-winning activities in order not to escalate the situation.
“All we are saying is that the government is doing a lot, we have already seen the eight ongoing projects, those that have already been completed but we are also urging the government to do more, to invest a bit more especially in those areas to protect the strategic assets and we are also calling on the private sector, some of them have a business along this coastline that are at risk if steps are not taken to protect them.”
“We invite the private sector to partner with us to come on board and invest in coastal protection and also to make some investments in our national hydrological fund.”