Football saves Ghanian beach
Location:
Keta is a town of about 100,000 people on the coast
of Ghana in West Africa, close to the border with
Togo.
Background information:
The town of Keta is located on a sandbar peninsular
behind which is the Keta Lagoon. The sandbar is
being rapidly eroded (rate of 2-7m3/year) by the sea.
If the sandbar is breached the changes in salinity and
water flow could have significant impacts for agriculture, fishing and commerce not to mention an
important wildlife habitat. The Keta Sea Defence project involved four phases and includes the reconstruction of a road lost to erosion, defences (groynes) to limit future erosion, flooding control
measures and land reclamation from the lagoon. The project cost an estimated $85 million in total.
Keta Sandlanders are a local football team formed in part to help fund community projects to help
maintain and benefit from the protected coastline. The Sandlanders have played a prominent role in
local development projects such as in the creation of a new beach resort at the newly reclaimed
Emancipation Beach.
Main issues and themes:
Through the video students are introduced to the town of Keta and the problems associated with
rapid coastal erosion. They are shown some of the sea defence measures used to deal with the
problem and meet an unusual football team that exists to finance community development projects.
Key issues include:
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The causes of coastal erosion (human and physical)
The impact and dangers of coastal erosion in LEDCs (to health, housing and the economy)
Coastal defence methods
Community projects vs. the role of the government
Coastal erosion and climate change/sea level rise
Possible enquiry questions:
There are many different directions to take a lesson that makes use of this video. Some questions to
get students thinking critically after the video may include:
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Should a LEDC such as Ghana spend US$85 million on a sea defence project like this?
If the English coast was eroding at the same rate as Keta, what would be at risk in the next
10 years (a particular case study could be used as a reference point)?
If the sandbar was breached by the sea, what would the effect be on the local environment
and economy?
Starter activities
The following starters may help get students engaged on a particular issue addressed in the video.
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Coastal dominoes – match key coastal terms (and pictures) to their definitions.
Listen to what these children from Ghana say about their local environment. Do you agree?
Suggestions for main lesson activities:
The video throws up a number of different issues and could be incorporated into a variety of main
lesson activities. Here are just a few examples:
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What are the physical processes that are threatening Keta and its residents? Explain coastal
erosion processes, types of waves and/or longshore drift. These could be labelled on a
satellite photo or map of Keta.
Annotate an image of Keta highlighting the four parts of the sea defence project and
explaining why each one benefits the town.
Look at other beaches with higher/lower erosion rates. Ask students to explain why each
beach might erode faster or slower than Keta (consider wave type/fetch/natural
protection/dunes/sea defences etc)
Get the students to create their own imaginary community group like Keta Sandlanders.
Write a short piece explaining what would it be called, what would it come together around
(e.g. football) and what community needs would it address?
Relevant additional resources:
Keta Sea Defence Project (from the engineering company who implemented it)
Keta Sandlanders Football Club
Keta Lagoon
Other related Atlantic Rising resources:
Atlantic Rising itself has a number of additional resources from the expedition that are related to
and could support a lesson (or lessons) based on this video. These include:
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Case study: Football in Ghana
Radio: Interview with the engineer
Video: Sand extraction in Sierra Leone
Case study: Sand extraction in Sierra Leone
Case study: Coastal erosion and beach management in Gambia
Case study: Salt water poisoning threatens Ghana