The pollution of the Fosu lagoon threatens the livelihood of the fishermen. The problem is long known, but so far no actions are taken to prevent the massive and on-going pollution of the lagoon a situation that needs to be changed to avoid a human disaster for more than 500 fishermen.
The place where a god lives is imagined as pompous place, which surly has to be a
clean and tidy place. The place where the traditional god of Fosu lives is the exactly opposite it is dirty and polluted place the, Fosu lagoon and the cause of that is human made. Whoever visits the Fosu Lagoon Cape Coast will be shocked by the state of Lagoon. The edges of the Lagoon are covered with rubber and pure water bags and the water itself is not in a better state. Pollutants of the surrounding workshops and these of other pollutants producing facilities are washed or piped into the Lagoon causing a very bad pollution of the water. Even some gutters are being piped into the lagoon. Due to the rising sandbank and other circumstances, the lagoon is no longer a body of water with a regular flow and exchanges of water; it became a stagnating body of water, which increases the risk of a constant and irreversible pollution, an eutrophication of the lagoon. The interrupted connection to the sea also causes a further danger to the lagoon the possibility of draining, the water level of lagoon already decreased. The eutrophication of such an body of water is very likely if the pollution continues. Either a threatening eutrophication or the draining of the lagoon would destroy the livelihood of over 500 fishermen with families dependent on their income so roughly more than 2000 people are directly dependent on the fish livestock of the lagoon. Not one of them could absorb the loss of the fish in lagoon. In addition the amount of caught fish already reduced from before 4-5 buckets to now 2-3 and it is not a seasonable decrease it is a constant
decrease. So the water is an important giver of life for a lot of people. An eutrophication or a draining of the lagoon would result in human disaster, the allegations of 2005, that the fish was poisonous, because of the extensive pollution of the lagoon, already caused that a lot of fishermen had to struggle for their existence. The EPA suggestions to bring a change in the process of continuing and rising pollution, of the lagoon, were generally ignored or not implemented by the government, because of lack of money or conflicts with parties involved in the process. Those suggestions included drenching of the lagoon, occasional opening of the sandbar, or the relocations. Both responsible institutions the traditional council and the CCMA are urged by the fishermen to act now. Visits and measurements of lagoon were conducted very often but resulted, as seen by the fishermen only in lip services and no actions. A change in the policy is needed, because the danger of livelihood for a lot of people increases with every day where no actions are taken. Many fishermen are frustrated and upset about the idleness of the government or the responsible institutions.
Talking to the Metropolitan Chief Executive Anthony Egyir Aikins, he revealed projects are in the pipeline to make the place more appealing and cleaner. Projects like the building of a bridge over the lagoon, the opening of the sandbar to ensure a constant flow of water, the drenching of the lagoon. The development of the outer areas to a more appealing environment are vital to make the place also attractive as tourist side. Those projects are big money consuming projects to initiate, for these projects investors are needed and the assembly is in contact with several potential investors, but so far there were no clear results. The lagoon is vital traditional point and needs to be persevered also for the sake of the fishermen.
This lagoon serves a lot of means it is livelihood for the fishermen, a traditional important point and also once it is clean a tourist side. So it is important to stop the environmental pollution of this place to also preserve such a possible beautiful place for future generation. The projects in the pipeline should be realized as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the lagoon. However the Lagoon is not the only place in Ghana, where the pollution takes over, it seems like pollution became notorious habit, either because of unawareness about the importance of the environment or a lack of interest for the environment.
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