Increased ground water extraction can cause sudden sinking of the earth’s surface – Marine Expert

Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, a coastal and marine processes expert at the University of Ghana, has issued a strong caution against the rapid increase in underground water extraction and sand winning activities, warning that Ghana is already experiencing signs of land subsidence due to these practices.

This comes as recent studies indicate the country is recording millimeters of land subsidence, a phenomenon he warns could worsen if left unchecked.

Land subsidence, the gradual settling or sudden sinking of the earth’s surface, poses serious risks to infrastructure and communities. It can result in the appearance of cracks in buildings, the sinking or tilting of structures, and compromised roads, subways, and underground utility networks.

As Ghana’s groundwater resources are tapped at an accelerating pace, Prof. Addo cautions that unregulated extraction could lead to more extensive damage across urban and coastal areas.

Prof. Addo, who serves as the project investigator for the ENGULF project, a two-year research initiative funded by the French Development Agency and led in collaboration with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, highlighted the urgency of establishing effective monitoring frameworks.

“We need to put in place a robust monitoring scheme to ensure we do not transition from recording millimeters to centimeters of subsidence in Ghana,” he stated. He emphasized that institutions must adhere to regulatory guidelines on groundwater extraction to mitigate these risks.

The ENGULF project, based at the University of Ghana, is dedicated to addressing knowledge gaps surrounding coastal land subsidence and its relationship to sea-level rise along the Gulf of Guinea. It aims to gather comprehensive data to inform sustainable water resource management strategies and policy guidelines in Ghana and neighboring countries. According to Prof. Addo, the project’s findings will play a critical role in shaping regulations to balance the needs of communities with environmental sustainability.

Beyond infrastructure, land subsidence poses direct environmental threats, including increased flooding vulnerability, erosion, and impacts on coastal ecosystems. Ghana’s growing reliance on groundwater, exacerbated by population growth and urbanization, places added stress on this vital resource. Sand winning activities, often conducted along coastal areas, contribute to this problem by destabilizing surrounding landscapes and accelerating erosion.

To address these challenges, Prof. Addo recommends a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, local authorities, and water management experts to ensure a long-term, sustainable framework. “Guidelines on groundwater extraction are vital, but we must also enhance public awareness to help protect our land from further degradation,” he added.

The University of Ghana and ENGULF researchers plan to present their findings to policymakers to drive the implementation of targeted interventions, which may include restrictions on groundwater extraction in vulnerable areas, stricter enforcement of sand winning activities, and technological solutions for monitoring land subsidence.

This latest warning from Prof. Addo is a call to action for Ghana to adopt more sustainable resource management practices that protect both its natural environment and infrastructure.

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