Sea erosion at Ada Foah: assessment of impacts and proposed mitigation measures

Sea erosion is a serious threat to life and property in coastal towns. The coastline of Ada Foah has been facing sea erosion and occasional flooding for several decades. This research investigated the socio-economic and environmental impacts of these geomorphic processes using social survey methods of data collection and shoreline change analysis. The main research tools used include questionnaire survey, interviews and Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) 4.2 software using extracted shorelines of 1926 ground survey sheet and 2008 Landsat ETM+ image to determine shoreline change between the periods. The research identified some environmental and socio-economic impacts of the sea erosion on the coastal community, and these include the destruction of coastal ecosystems and infrastructure such as offices of institutions, school blocks and roads. The ramifications of these problems include homelessness, unemployment and poverty, which compel victims to migrate. Results of shoreline change analysis indicate that, the Ada Foah shoreline has been receding since 1926 to date with a mean change in shoreline of 280.49 m and an average annual rate of 3.46 m/year. To protect the coastline from the battering sea, a sea defence project, comprising sand nourishment and the construction of groynes, is being undertaken.