KPESHIE LAGOON DIES SLOWLY.

lagoons are part of nature's beauty, and encarta students dictionary defines
lagoon to be the coastal bodies of water separated from the ocean by a series of Barriers Island which lies parallel to the shore line.

The kpeshie lagoon is not an exception of this description, it is located at Teshie, a typical GA domineering community in the capital Accra.

Among other lagoons, like the korle lagoon, the kpeshie lagoon covers relatively area of 110 km2.

It is bounded on the east by the military academy at teshie, whiles on the north by line south of medina and Aginganor. It covers the eastern part of Accra, ridge, cantonment, Osu, Labadi, and Burma camp.


For the past few years, the kpeshie lagoon has and is still experiencing some environmental hazards which have left the lagoon dying slowly


The lagoon which is one of the most that produces the species of fish called tilapia which is a nice and taste fish which most Ghanaian enjoy its consumption does no longer produce this fish species because of the level of pollution.

Part of the land which the lagoon occupies are been sold out for construction works for both housing and other structions like churches. The apostolic continuation church is an example of such construction. This causes flood around.

ATTITUDE DAMAGES KPESHIE.

Not only this but then human activities like using that place as a refuge dump and also a place of convenience is a popular act among dwellers near and far from the lagoon. Some residence said that people even in classy cars bring rubbish to dump into the lagoon

The situation became worse when the rehabilitation of the ohene djan stadium began for the African cup of nations which Ghana was the host.

The contractors of this project took advantage of the nearness of the lagoon and used it for a dumping site of all their debris. This no authority stopped them from doing.

I think what Ghanaians are refusing to realize is that this lagoon leads to the sea and that whatever environmental hazard caused to the aquatic world will also affect us in a way or the other. This is a contributing factor to the gradual collapse of the fishing trade.

Except from all these environmental hazards caused to the lagoon, part of the forest mangrove around it that protects it from evaporating, has been destroyed by some irresponsible Ghanaians.

And it’s so sad to hear or even sight what these destroyed parts of the mangrove are used for. People have built brothels in the little mangrove and illegal paths have been constructed leading to these brothels. This they say its no man’s land so they can do what they like. ‘Wee’ smokers have also taken their portion of the ‘no man’s land’ and this place has been turn to smoking grounds and also the illegal act of selling marijuana.

In a conversation with a man called ‘RAS TIM’ who claims he comes there i.e. the lagoon’s mangrove to relax and smoke as well. He is a resident of teshie and that the local people have attributed the lagoons inabilities to produce more fish to spirit forces attach to the lagoon water. He further said they believe there are goddesses in the lagoon and for that matter they have day which they fish from the lagoon.

Mean while, currently the link between the lagoon and the sea has dried up and some resident explains that until this link is connected they are not allowed to fish. When the linkage occurs, then the kpeshie goddess can allow them to fish, that’s what residence around believe. It is surprising that even in this modern era some people still believe in things that are supposed to be obvious.

Speaking to another man named ANAS, who resides there in the mangrove forest, he reveals he sometimes clean the dirt that has gathered along the lagoon and those the sea has brought back to the shores. He also says.” I can’t do all by myself so sometimes those who come to play clean sides they will use”. According to this man no one pays him for his services he claims.


The destruction of the kpeshie lagoon, I think is the attitude of we the people, but we should also remember that there is no such thing like free lunch, and hence what goes round comes round. We are affected by our own attitude, so let’s learn to change and let it begin with you.