Ghana’s sea level to rise by 2020

AN Environmental expert, Dr Steve Duadze, has indicated that there is likelihood of a rise in the sea level in Ghana by 2020.
He has, therefore, advised people in the coastal areas to be mindful of such natural phenomenon and take appropriate measures to check its possible effect.
Delivering a public lecture on the theme, “Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Ghana”, Dr Duadze said the quantity of dry land of the earth surface was likely to reduce by the year 2020 as a result of the increasing sea level.
The lecture was organised by the Department of Environment and Development Studies of the Central University College.
Dr Duadze, who is also a senior lecturer at the department, advised residents along coastal towns such as Keta, Ada, Cape Coast to adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the effect of the rising sea level on human life.
According to him, if the current sea-level rise was not checked, agricultural activities in those areas might be adversely affected.
Dr Duadze said sea-level rise of 2.1 mm per year had been observed over the last 30 years, and indications were that the sea would register a rise of 5.8 cm by 2020, 16.5cm by 2050 and 34.5cm by 2080.
Dr Duadze again predicted a decrease in the rainfall pattern of the country on an average of 2.8 per cent by the year 2020, 10.9 per cent by 2050 and 18.6 per cent by 2080.
He explained that increased global temperature would cause the melting of glaciers, leading to a significant rise in average sea level and exposing low-lying coastal cities and cities located by tidal rivers to frequent and serve flood.
Dr Duadze cautioned again that if the rate of fossil fuel consumption and deforestation did not change or reduce, warming trends were likely to continue, and global temperature might continue to increase between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius.
“Averagely, it is estimated that temperature will continue to rise by about 0.6 by 2020, 2.0 by 2050 and 3.9 by 2080,” he said.
On health, Dr Duadze mentioned that guinea worm and diarrhoea cases, including cholera, were likely to increase with reduced rainfall and increased temperature.
He stressed that though increase in air temperature and reduced rainfall were indications of a decline in the number of malarial cases, it may only be shifting from one location to another.
Dr Duadze said agriculture was likely to be the heaviest hit by the global climate change as a result of decline in soil fertility due to unpredictable changes in rainfall pattern and temperature.
Increased incidence of pest attacks resulting from increase in temperature, loss of cropland due to erosion and desertification, coastal erosion destroying some valuable coastal agricultural land and increased demand for irrigation were just a few of the expected impacts of climate change.
After painting a very gloomy picture of the effect of climate change of the various sectors of the economy he gave the assurance that there was solution only if the government was prepared to put in place effective policies to curb the situation.
Dr Duadze recommended the harvesting and storage of water in a more improved and simple surface facility such as ponds, tanks, dugouts and small reservoirs for use in the dry months of the year.
He again proposed the damming of rivers and streams for a more sustainable water availability.
He said the provision and design of suitable water management and drainage facilities in irrigated crop fields, fish farms, residential areas and homes must be of prime concern to the government.
Dr Duadze also called for a more holistic approach to fish farming problem through close co-operation with managers of forestry, water and other resources to ensure adequate management practices of the environment.
He said in order to eradicate poverty and create a healthy population, more fish storage facilities should be established to reduce post-harvest losses, retain wholesomeness and ensure stable pricing on the market.