Climate Change Survivors will speak of High Seas and Farmed Fish
Climate change is real. It is not simply a distant Western idea where people in developed countries complain about the abnormal amount of rain on a hot summer day, or unexpected sunshine in the middle of winter. It is a real phenomenon with possibly catastrophic long term effects, that continues to alter the world’s weather patterns and sea levels. What is more pressing is that West Africa will bear the brunt of its effects even though the sub-region played a minimal role in propelling the changes on the global level.
Countries along the coast of West Africa have already begun to experience the effects of rising sea levels. Soon, countries further away from the coast such as Mali will also begin to experience the effects of climate change, albeit, in different forms.
We should care about climate change for the same reasons why we push the government to provide jobs, quality education, and affordable healthcare for its people. At this point, it is an indisputable fact that people will be displaced and lives will be negatively affected as a result of climate change. But this change also presents an opportunity for West African governments to not only survive this impending disaster, but also thrive by adapting.
Take Fuvemeh — the first episode of the impending disaster.
Located just west of the Volta river and situated on the coast of Keta, Fuvemeh was home to over 20,000 fishermen and farmers whose livelihoods depended primarily on the natural habitat. However, in the past year, encroaching waters have destroyed their fishing boats, flooded their farmland and rendered their homes uninhabitable. Most recently, more than 150 persons were forced to relocate, leaving behind a way of life that dates back to their forefathers.
Other inhabitants took their complaints to the Keta Municipality Security Council — Fuvemeh’s governing body — and asked them to build a sea defense wall to prevent the rising waters from further damaging the town. When asked why they refused to leave their homes, one explained, “We cannot go anywhere. We are fishermen. We won’t survive anywhere else. Sea defense; that is the only solution.”
The events in Fuvemeh foreshadow a devastating future if the country fails to adapt to climate change. This development is particularly problematic for Ghana because, not only will the change in rainfall patterns and extreme heat disrupt the agricultural sector as we have recently witnessed in the cocoa industry, but also the global environmental phenomenon may also destroy the fabric of life for Ghanaians living along the coast.
Fuvemeh is not an isolated case. In fact, it is far from it.
Recently, The Union of Concerned Scientists published a peer-reviewed report showing the rate of sea level rise and flooding in low lying areas on the East Coast of America. The report and the details of this report are sobering to say the least. The scientists argue that, “Options are limited. All are costly, whether adapting to a watery future with seawalls and other barriers, or retreating and finding a new place to call home.”
Reacting to the effects of climate change — namely, rising sea levels in low-lying areas — is costly and difficult, even for a country with access to immense wealth and resources. In the face of this seemingly insurmountable challenge, priority must be given to facing this head-on. Unfortunately, the United States under its current leadership has chosen to pivot its attention away from a cause it championed for many years in the global arena. The responsibility now rests upon other countries to step into this vacuum in order to assemble a solid, united front in tackling climate change.
As of 2016, Ghana’s population stood at a staggering 28 million people. A substantial number of Ghanaians from that figure live and work in Accra, the capital city. In addition, large swathes of people work along the coast in Takoradi and Tema, in addition to the fishing communities which have been present for generations.
Think of coastal towns like Teshie, Gomoah Fetteh, Senya Beraku, Axim experiencing a similar situation. Imagine the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles — iconic symbols of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and prominent tourist destinations in Ghana — threatened by flooding. And like the inhabitant of Fuvemeh who was concerned for his livelihood, many Ghanaians will seek protection by means of a sea defense wall once the sea water begins to creep into their towns. However, the government cannot afford to construct a barrier for Fuvemeh, let alone the entire coast. It is arguable that a sea defense wall is merely a short-term solution to a long-term crisis. Whatever the case may be, the country’s leadership, as well as inhabitants need to recognize the challenge such a problem will pose, and seek effective long term solutions along with our neighboring countries who will also surely be facing similar predicaments.
Moving forward, it is critical that the decision makers grasp the concept of climate change, it’s possible effects, and how best to prepare Ghanaians for this development not only because we need to be prepared, but also because the country possesses the potential to successfully adapt.
Interestingly, Ghana may be on the right track if the government focuses its resources into rehabilitating and relocating the climate refugees through aquaculture and fish farming infrastructure programs.
The solution of the past, present and future: Fish
From the towns on the coast of Ghana, to the growing aquaculture industry, and to the growing worldwide demand for alternative sources of protein, is one product: Fish.
Firstly, Ghanaians living on the coast have survived and made a living for themselves selling fish caught in the early hours of the day. It is a part of their daily hustle and their personal identity. Conversely, the Ghanaian government, in partnership with private actors has been expanding the size of the fish-farming/aquaculture industry over the past 10 years.
Citizens are partnering up across districts to ramp up the size of small ponds in order to increase the supply of fingerling used to feed fish in farms across the country. Mr. Atornyo Agbeko, a research scientist at the Water Research Institute explained that, “with the fast depletion of marine fish, it is imperative to come up with alternatives that would help sustain the fish industry.”
Most recently, the government allocated funds for the completion of the Anomabo Fisheries College. The college — upon completion of construction — will be, “the training of extension officers for the marine and in-land fisheries sub-sector through the running of short-term proficiency courses in virtually all aspects of fisheries and aquaculture for practitioners and prospective actors.”
From these examples, one may argue that the infrastructure exists to meet the growing worldwide demand for fish protein. It is also important to note that fish farms and aquaculture operations can be constructed as in-land ponds in land locked areas thereby shielding infrastructure from rising waters.
Further, if Fuvemeh is any indicator of the inevitability of climate change, sea level rise is only the beginning of what is to come. The government must use this opportunity to encourage investors to finance the expansion of this industry so that the refugees of the coastal towns affected will find jobs doing what they love.
Admittedly, this suggestion is not a solution that will fit every climate change related issue. However, expanding the aquaculture industry in Ghana is a tacit solution to providing jobs and livelihood for those who need it the most. Furthermore, at the center of this puzzle is the role of knowledge and information. Reliance on accurate information spread between neighboring countries, development partners (agencies), developed countries, and the global scientific community will spur positive adaptation. Relocation may be a tough sell for those who have spent their lives along the coastal areas, having mostly known a single way of life. However, access to information and increased understanding of the issue may help breed new ideas and chart new courses of action.
Nevertheless the question remains: how far can man go to force nature to backpedal or to slow its course? Is this a lesson in futility? Many argue that nature will adapt, and so will humans.
One this is certain, we shall never know unless we try.
Brian Saleeby and Ato Bensti-Enchill contributed to this piece.
