TIDAL WAVES AND EROSION IN GHANA

      The beautiful country of Ghana is located on the West Coast of Africa.  All along the coast are gorgeous beaches that attract many tourists all year long except during the monsoon season which occasionally happen.  However, the coastline of Ghana has been altered due to the changes in the natural environment.  As the article (see Works Cited),"such changes reflect influences such as movement of the earth crust, and variation in sea level and climate". In addition, as we learned from the textbook Natural Hazards, human beings and engineering infrastructures also contribute to the change in the coastal shoreline.  Therefore it is not surprising to notice that the coastal environment with such modifications start to lose its 'natural beauty' as I will refer to it.  

       According to Graphic Online, a popular news report, in the months of April and September 2016, extreme tidal waves along the coast of Ghana did tremendous damage to private and public infrastructure.  The news also reported that the storms passed through the coast destroying homes, fishing boats, outbo

ard motors, fishing nets, and other equipment of fishermen.  After these incidents, the news reported that politicians rushed to the aid of those affected by the hazards. However residents in the coastal shoreline who are mainly fishermen want to see concrete and appropriate measures put in place as prevention instead of waiting til these events cause substantial damage.  In the year of 2014 as a result of high tidal waves, one community was completely wiped out.  The waves came and washed away all the houses.  Only one victim, a woman was reported to have drowned in her bed at night.  Therefore with another hazard occurring in 2016 has caused a huge concern among those living along the coast.

        Upon these concerns, there are ongoing talks on the table in the government about mitigation and coping strategies before, during, and afterwards.  One of the measures proposed is to build a sea defence wall to block the waves from "swallowing the communities and infrastructures around.  Such measure, though admirable was only built around high value estate and not around all the places especially the communities that needed the most.  Another drawback of the defence wall was the fact that it has led to the loss of fishing livelihoods, making fishermen resent the idea of it.  The second proposed measure was the possibility of relocation, which the majority of the communities are not keen about.  To the communities who rely on fishing as their profession, relocation is not an option at all.  The third and last proposed was Soft Engineering.  You may wonder what this big name symbolize?  Well, no to worry, it simply means a "deliberate policy for communities to leave a reasonable distance between the seafront and the settlement development or any public infrastructure". (Graphic Online).  Thus the procedure will involve planting trees, and other vegetation, and nourishing the beach.  

         Of all the proposed measures, only the soft engineering has been consistently appropriated so far.  The other two have met opposition from the communities living on the coast.  While the debate is still lingering around the discussion table, the elders of the communities have formed a solid coalition to help each other during those crises.  In their homes, they have to mount up their beds higher above the ground and most structures are secured with tight ropes. 

           Coastal hazards in the regions of Ghana have affected not only the livelihood of communities of fishermen; but also the attraction of tourists in the area.  While the government is trying to figure out ways to reduce or even stop such events, educating the population and putting in place organisations that will alert the residents in time of any impeding danger is an ongoing process.  This alertness and disaster preparedness will give sufficient time for the residents to move their boats and evacuate the coast as soon as possible in order to save lives.

Works Cited 

http://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/ghana-s-coast-hazards-planning-management-disaster-response.html

http://www.jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/viewFile/40/40

          

                                                                                                                                                            HARMATTAN : Extreme Weather in Ghana!!!

  Ghana, the beautiful country on the West Coast of Africa has a tropical climate.  Out of the 365 days of the year, it is mostly hot and dry.   Besides the hot temperature and humidity, the country experiences also rainy seasons, which if they last quite long can cause flooding.  And I have addressed the topic of flooding in my previous blog.  Another extreme weather that I have not mentioned about Ghana yet is Harmattan.  You probably never heard of this word.  Well, guess what?  That is my assignment to enlighten you.  Harmattan is an extreme weather that takes place on the West Coast of Africa around December through late February/early March.  It is a dry, dusty wind that blows from the Sahara.  Most of the times, people are happy about the change Harmattan brings with it.  Well, it dims the heat and provides a much cooler breeze.  Nevertheless, it can be rusty at times when it looks like the whole country is enveloped in fog that we see here on the Bay in the morning.  The only difference is that it is not fog but the dust the wind brings from the desert and affects the northern region of the country more than the city.   With this type, you must have a serious lip balm with you at all times or your lips will be chapped and could easily bleed; you also will need a nasal decongestant since it is so dry and finally a moisturizing lotion.  The locals always recommend Shea butter to relieve the dryness in the air.  Personally, I prefer the sunny, humid weather than Harmattan even though the latter is cooler.  But as with anything don't just take my word for it.  Feel free to take an adventure in December to see if you are more acclimated to that type of weather.