TITLE:
An Empirical Assessment of Marine Debris, Seawater Quality and Littering in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Irene P. Van Dyck, Francis K. E. Nunoo, Elaine T. Lawson
KEYWORDS:
Marine Debris, Accra-Tema Coastline, Ghana, Plastics, Seawater Quality, Littering Perception
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
6,
2016
ABSTRACT: A
baseline survey was carried out at four beaches along Ghana’s Accra-Tema
coastline over a period of sixteen weeks to determine beach quality, seawater
quality and the perception of beach users towards littering. A total of 18,241
items of marine debris which weighed 297.59 kg were collected. Plastic
materials were the dominant debris, accounting for 63.72% of total debris.
Land-based marine debris formed the largest proportion of debris collected
(93% of items/m2 and 85 kg/m2). Water quality analysis
revealed high mean levels of coliforms and E.
coli above World Health Organization (WHO) levels on all four beach
locations. A social survey that targeted beach users and some stakeholders revealed
a habit of littering and beach users as the main source of litter generation on
Ghana’s beaches. Intensive education, continuous monitoring and the enforcement of
appropriate policy initiatives remain vital to addressing beach and water quality issues along Ghana’s
coastline.