The Volta delta has always been a dynamic and rich environment that has constantly been changing over time, but due to climate change the delta is facing lots of challenges in a very short time period.
Climate change related events, such as heavy rainfall, flooding, drought, sea level rise, storm surge and increasing temperatures are causing changes in the delta system. The increased rainfall is causing lots of flooding in the delta. Not only rainfall but also sea level rise is causing floods in the area.
The dam, which is build at the end of lake Volta is also causing threats to the people and the environment. Because of the dam lots of places became suitable for lots of growth of the schistosomo host snails. The snails have caused infections and became a public health issue. Since the building of the dam people with that infection has increased from 10% of the population to 80-90%.
Not only is the dam causing threats to the people but it also causes lots of erosion. Before the dam was build, the erosion rate was 4m per year and after the dam was build it became 8m per year.
After damming the river the floods and erosion did not stop and almost half of the people living in the Keta region were underwater. Ghana decided to build a sea defense, to protect the people living next to the Keta basin from floods. They build a large highway along the coast. Due to this highway the Keta lagoon formed.
It should be noted, however, that some of the migration may be directly linked to climate and/or environmental change. Land that is being used for agriculture have been lost to flooding and erosion. Also there is lots of salinization which has a negative impact on fresh water fisheries. Also the sea defense walls have no impact on people coming back to the area.
It is estimated that future accelerated environmental change due to the impacts of coastal erosion and flooding will lead to mass displacements and high out-migration from affected areas.
The oil and gas industry is growing very fast in Ghana. Due to the industry lots of land is degrading and there is lots of pollution. In addition, land is descending. Due to sea level rise there are already lots of floods, this will only be more when the land is also descending.