The scene is tragically familiar. At dawn, under the Ghanaian sun, excavators tear into the
earth and concrete at the Sakumo Ramsar site, a wetland supposedly protected under
international convention. Dust clouds rise, families scramble to salvage belongings from the
rubble, and officials, flanked by police, declare another victory against illegal encroachment.
Just days ago, in late May 2025, this exact scenario unfolded, spearheaded by the Greater
Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, following a directive to reclaim critical ecological
zones. Yet, this recurring ritual, played out across Accra’s vital wetlands, such as
Sakumono, Densu Delta, and Korle Lagoon, for decades, is not conservation. It is a costly,
reactive theatre, a pantomime of enforcement that masks deep-seated systemic failures in
urban governance, land economics, and ecological stewardship. While the bulldozers offer a
fleeting image of control, they ultimately fail to address the roots of the crisis, ensuring that
the cycle of destruction continues, pushing Accra closer to an ecological and economic
precipice.
The Stakes: Losing More Than Land
The persistent degradation of Accra’s wetlands represents far more than the loss of
undeveloped land; it signifies the systematic dismantling of the city’s ecological life support
system. These coastal ecosystems— the lagoons, marshes, and mangrove forests – are not
vacant lots awaiting concrete but rather dynamic natural infrastructure that performs
invaluable services. They act as critical sponges, absorbing floodwaters from
increasingly intense rainfall and buffering approximately 60 percent of Accra’s coastline
against storm surges – a service whose value becomes starkly apparent during the city’s
recurrent, devastating floods. The catastrophic floods of 2015, which claimed over 200 lives,
serve as a grim reminder of the consequences when these natural defenses are
compromised. Beyond flood control, these wetlands nurture vital fisheries that support local
livelihoods, act as natural filters purifying water, and provide irreplaceable habitats for
biodiversity, including migratory birds traveling vast distances along the East Atlantic Flyway.
Sakumono and Densu Delta, both designated as Ramsar sites of international importance,
underscore Ghana’s global responsibility for conservation. Yet, the reality
on the ground paints a picture of relentless decline. Since the 1960s, Accra’s urban sprawl
has consumed an estimated 60 percent of its wetland areas. Sakumono Lagoon alone has
reportedly shrunk by a staggering 45 percent since 1990, its protective
mangroves often replaced by construction debris. The economic cost of this neglect is
immense and escalating. Conservative estimates suggest Accra already suffers over $100
million in annual damages due to flooding, a figure directly linked to wetland degradation.
Furthermore, the destruction poisons local ecosystems, as seen when demolition rubble
contaminated Korle Lagoon’s crab colonies, and diminishes the natural capital – fisheries,
clean water, climate resilience – upon which the city’s long- term prosperity depends.
Ignoring the estimated $50 million in annual ecosystem services these wetlands provide is
not just an ecological oversight; it is profound economic mismanagement.
The Cycle of Failure: Why the Bulldozers Return
The persistent return of excavators to Accra’s wetlands is not accidental; it is the predictable
outcome of a deeply ingrained cycle of failure. This vicious loop begins with encroachment,
often facilitated by speculators who exploit unclear land titles and alleged corruption within
traditional and state land administration systems, selling plots in protected Ramsar zones at
significantly reduced prices – sometimes up to 70% below market value. Attracted by
affordability or driven by the lack of viable housing alternatives, migrants and developers
then construct homes and businesses, gambling, often correctly, that state intervention will
be slow or selective. Eventually, often after years of inaction and sometimes spurred by
media attention or political directives, authorities mount demolition exercises. These
operations, while visually dramatic, frequently target the most vulnerable settlers and
smaller structures, while larger, well- connected developments remain untouched – a
phenomenon described as “selective justice” in the provided materials. Crucially, the
demolitions rarely lead to ecological restoration. Instead, the cleared, degraded land often
becomes attractive for new encroachment, restarting the cycle. This costly theatre persists
due to several interconnected pathologies. Firstly, demolitions offer political expediency – a
visible display of “action” that avoids confronting the more complex and politically sensitive
root causes like land speculation by powerful actors, systemic corruption, or the chronic
deficit in affordable urban housing. Secondly, the economic valuation of wetlands remains
fundamentally flawed. National accounts and land registries largely ignore the substantial,
long-term economic benefits derived from ecosystem services, pricing these vital areas as
essentially worthless “empty land,” thereby incentivizing short-term speculative gains over
sustainable management. Thirdly, institutional weakness plagues enforcement efforts.
Responsibility for wetland management is fragmented across multiple agencies – including
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Lands Commission, the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly (AMA), and the Ramsar Secretariat – none of which possesses clear primacy or
adequate resources. Reports indicate skeletal budgets and staffing, with enforcement
divisions severely undermanned for the vast areas they must cover, lacking basic tools like
drones or even fuel for patrols.
This institutional paralysis is compounded by the stark irony of Ghana receiving international
climate finance to protect these ecosystems while simultaneously permitting or funding
infrastructure projects that contribute to their destruction. The recent demolitions, therefore,
are less a sign of robust environmental protection and more a symptom of these profound,
unresolved systemic failures.
A Path Forward: Beyond Performance Art
Continuing the cycle of demolition without addressing its underlying drivers is akin to treating
a chronic illness with temporary painkillers – it offers fleeting relief but guarantees relapse.
Escaping this costly theatre requires a fundamental shift away from reactive, punitive
measures towards proactive, integrated, and systemic solutions that recognize the true value
of Ghana’s wetlands. This necessitates a multi-pronged approach. Firstly, Ghana must
value nature properly within its economic framework.
This means formally integrating the monetary value of ecosystem services into national
accounts and land registries, making the economic case for conservation undeniable.
Implementing market-based instruments like mitigation banking, where developers
compensate for unavoidable impacts, or taxing wetland degradation can internalize
environmental costs. Secondly, governance and enforcement must be radically
strengthened. Fragmented authority should be consolidated under a single, well- funded
agency endowed with clear mandates, prosecutorial powers, and the resources (personnel,
technology, operational budgets) to effectively monitor and protect wetland areas.
Establishing specialized environmental courts could expedite the handling of land crimes,
sending a clear signal that impunity will no longer be tolerated. Critically, Ramsar sites must
be designated as inviolable no-build zones within all national infrastructure and development
plans. Thirdly, technology must be leveraged for prevention. Proven systems like
AI-powered satellite monitoring, successfully employed in initiatives like Global Wetland
Watch or for protecting areas like Nairobi National Park in Kenya, can provide real-time alerts
of illegal construction, enabling swift intervention and potentially linking detection to an
automatic freeze on land titles. Fourthly, restorative and just practices must replace
purely destructive actions. When demolitions are unavoidable, they must be coupled with
immediate ecological restoration efforts, such as mangrove replanting. Furthermore, fair and
dignified resettlement programs, offering land swaps to suitable state-acquired inland sites,
must be developed for displaced vulnerable populations, addressing the human dimension of
the crisis. Empowering local communities as trained and resourced wetland guardians can
also provide invaluable on-the-ground monitoring. Finally, Ghana should actively create
economic incentives for conservation, exploring successful models like Senegal’s
Mikoko Pamoja project, which monetizes mangrove restoration through the voluntary blue
carbon market, turning conservation into a source of sustainable revenue.
Conclusion: Choosing Resilience Over Rubble
The recurring spectacle of bulldozers churning through Accra’s protected wetlands, most
recently at the Sakumo Ramsar site, is not a demonstration of environmental resolve but a
stark indictment of systemic failure. Relying on demolitions as the primary tool for wetland
protection is fiscally irresponsible, ecologically devastating, and ultimately futile, merely
resetting the stage for the next round of encroachment and destruction.
Ghana stands at a critical juncture. It can continue down the path of costly, reactive
demolitions, pouring public funds into ecological triage while ignoring the root causes of
degradation, thereby actively eroding its economic resilience and amplifying its vulnerability
to the escalating impacts of climate change. The World Bank’s projection that flood damages
could increase by 300% by 2050 if wetland degradation continues unchecked serves as a
dire warning. Alternatively, Ghana can choose a path of genuine, long-term security by
embracing systemic reforms. This requires the political will to value its natural capital
appropriately, strengthen governance, enforce laws equitably, leverage technology for
prevention, and invest in restorative practices and community partnerships. The choice is
clear: continue digging ecological graves with excavators, or build a truly resilient future by
recognizing and safeguarding wetlands as the invaluable natural infrastructure they are.
Wrecking balls cannot build resilience; visionary policy and decisive action can
By Richard DABLAH, Email: richard.dablah@gmail.com
