Coastal protection for Ada, Ghana: a case study

Along the northwest African coast average rates of coastal retreat are between 1 and 2 m per year. In Ada, Ghana, the shoreline retreat rates have been in excess of 6 m per year at some specific locations. As a result of the ongoing erosion, various properties and existing infrastructure are being damaged and destroyed; also, due to the poor condition of the beaches, and the presence of low-lying areas, Ada and other surrounding villages are prone to flooding. Hence, in 2010, the Ghanaian government decided to protect the coast in Ada along a distance of about 16 km. This paper discusses the aims and objectives of the coastal protection project in Ada, which consists of beach nourishment and groyne structures for its structural stabilisation. It also presents the main challenges of the project and the methods used to overcome these, as well as the successes and the lessons learned.