The Ghana Hydrological Authority has sounded the alarm on the urgent need for protection of the country’s coastline, warning that two-thirds of it is at risk of erosion. According to the authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Kissi, approximately 370 km of the 550 km coastline is vulnerable and requires immediate attention.
At a media briefing, Dr. Kissi revealed that key assets at risk 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,” he emphasized.
Dr. Kissi highlighted the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, including the Aboadze Power Enclave, which generates 730 megawatts of power. He also mentioned strategic roads in Cape Coast, educational institutions, and other vital assets that are at risk due to coastal erosion.
The CEO stressed the need for the government and private sector to invest heavily in coastal and climate adaptation and management strategies to mitigate the threat. He also urged the public to refrain from engaging in sand-winning activities that exacerbate coastal erosion.
Dr. Kissi called on the government to do more to protect strategic assets and invited the private sector to partner with the authority to invest in coastal protection. “We invite the private sector to come on board and invest in coastal protection and also to make some investments in our national hydrological fund,” he said.
The authority’s warning comes as the country grapples with the challenges of coastal erosion, which poses a significant threat to national assets, infrastructure, and the environment.
