Ghana’s historic coastal forts and several communities are under severe threat from climate change, particularly from rising sea levels and intense tidal waves. The nation loses an average of two meters of coastline each year, leading to significant erosion and displacement. Notable forts like Fort Prinzenstein and Fort Kongenstein have succumbed to the ocean, prompting government efforts such as the Keta Sea Defense Wall to mitigate this crisis and protect vulnerable regions.
Ghana is experiencing a significant loss of its historic forts along the nation’s 550-kilometer coastline due to the intensifying impact of tidal waves from the Atlantic Ocean. This situation not only threatens these historical sites but also endangers numerous coastal communities that may vanish as a result of severe natural forces. According to research conducted by the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, Ghana loses an estimated two meters of coastline each year, with some regions suffering total losses of up to 17 meters. The rising sea levels attributed to climate change pose a substantial risk to the livelihoods of coastal populations and the preservation of the country’s significant slave forts and castles. Among those at risk is Fort Prinzenstein, a 240-year-old structure located in Keta, Volta Region. The fort, once a prominent symbol, is now largely submerged beneath the ocean, with nearly two-thirds of it lost due to persistent tidal erosion. James Ocloo Akorli, the fort’s caretaker, remarked, “Eight of its ten dungeons, originally built to hold enslaved Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, were completely submerged before a sea defense wall was erected to protect what remains of the monument.” Further west, the 18th-century Fort Kongenstein in Ada has succumbed to the relentless erosion; its historical site has been completely transformed into open ocean with no remnants visible today. Likewise, Fort Fredensborg in Old Ningo, now 289 years old, has diminished to a mere remnant of its former self. Joyce Ayorkor Guddah, the Tourism and Culture Officer in the Ningo Prampram district, expressed concern stating, “Fort Vernon has become a death trap, as the tidal waves have severely damaged it.” In addition to the forts, numerous coastal communities are in jeopardy due to the encroaching sea. Akorli Simon, a former resident of Fuveme, lamented, “the Sea began swallowing our community. We were devastated and had to abandon Fuveme in 2016 after a powerful tidal surge washed away the land.” After relocating to the nearby village of Dzakplagbe, Simon expressed concern that this location might meet the same fate as Fuveme. The Western Region has not been spared, with the formerly prosperous Anlo village reduced to a narrow strip of land barely 60 to 100 meters wide, flanked by rising tides and an expanding lagoon fed by the River Pra. In Accra, the suburb of Glefe has witnessed many residents fleeing their homes in response to the destruction caused by tidal waves. To address these issues, significant initiatives are underway, including the construction of an 8.3-kilometer sea defense wall in Keta, which commenced more than a decade ago with financial support from the United States Export-Import Bank totaling $94 million. Moreover, the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project, Ghana 2, has been launched to enhance the resilience of Ghana’s coastal regions and restore critical maritime ecosystems. Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, emphasized the importance of this project, which is funded by the World Bank with an investment of $155 million aimed at tackling challenges such as tidal waves, flooding, pollution, and erosion in critical locations, including the Korle Lagoon, Densu Basin, and Keta Lagoon.
The coastal regions of Ghana are facing an escalating crisis due to climate change, particularly in the form of rising sea levels and increased tidal erosion. As a result, historical structures like forts, which have significant cultural and historical value, are at risk of being permanently lost. Concurrently, coastal communities are experiencing rapid land loss, prompting displacement and threatening their livelihoods. The Ghanaian government is responding with various projects intended to bolster coastal defenses and enhance community resilience against these environmental changes.
In conclusion, Ghana’s coastline is undergoing a dramatic transformation due to climate-related factors, posing an existential threat to both historic forts that hold cultural significance and the coastal communities that rely on their surroundings for sustenance. Ongoing efforts, including the Keta Sea Defense Wall and the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project, are critical in safeguarding these invaluable sites and protecting the communities at risk of extinction. It is imperative to expedite and strengthen these initiatives to combat further losses as climate change intensifies.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
