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Urban Waste Pollution in the Korle Lagoon, Accra, Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Kwasi Owusu Boadi

    (University of Jyvaskyla)

  • Markku Kuitunen

    (University of Jyvaskyla)

Abstract

The Korle Lagoon in Accra, Ghana, has become one of the most polluted water bodies on earth. It is the principal outlet through which all major drainage channels in the city empty their wastes into the sea. Large amounts of untreated industrial waste emptied into surface drains has led to severe pollution in the lagoon and disrupted its natural ecology. The increased levels of industrial activity and consumption by the urban population lead to the generation of copious quantities of waste. Managing the volume of wastes poses a major challenge for the city authorities, particularly, ensuring that all the waste generated is collected for disposal. In Accra, the Waste Management Department is currently capable of collecting only 60 percent of the waste generated daily. The rest is dumped in open spaces, in surface drains, and into water bodies which end up in the Korle Lagoon. High eutrophication levels have developed in the shallow water body. The net effect is that, at the slightest downpour, the lagoon overflows its banks causing regular flooding in parts of the city. The Government of Ghana, having realized the adverse impacts of pollution in the lagoon on the physical and economic environment of Accra, with the support of donor agencies, is implementing measures to restore the lagoon to its natural ecology. Attempts are also being made to get the communities in the catchment area to become involved in managing their environment through environmental education and awareness programes.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwasi Owusu Boadi & Markku Kuitunen, 2002. "Urban Waste Pollution in the Korle Lagoon, Accra, Ghana," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 301-309, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:22:y:2002:i:4:d:10.1023_a:1020706728569
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1020706728569
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Charles Y. OKYERE & Yira YACOUBA & Dominik GILGENBACH, 2013. "The Problem Of Annual Occurrences Of Floods In Accra: An Integration Of Hydrological, Economic And Political Perspectives," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 8(2), pages 45-79, May.
    2. Kwasi Owusu Boadi & Markku Kuitunen, 2003. "Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 211-218, September.
    3. Kurt Daum & Justin Stoler & Richard J. Grant, 2017. "Toward a More Sustainable Trajectory for E-Waste Policy: A Review of a Decade of E-Waste Research in Accra, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Mumuni Abu & Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, 2018. "Experience and Future Perceived Risk of Floods and Diarrheal Disease in Urban Poor Communities in Accra, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Emmanuel Abeka & Felix A. Asante & Wolfram Laube & Samuel N. A. Codjoe, 2020. "Contested causes of flooding in poor urban areas in Accra, Ghana: an actor-oriented perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3033-3049, April.

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