Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo, the Project Investigator (PI) of the Engulf Project at the University of Ghana, has therefore called for increased awareness of the effects of increased groundwater extraction.

"We need to put in place an effective monitoring scheme so that we do not begin to record centimetres of subsidence in the country. We should be guided by regulations when it comes to underground water extraction by public institutions and the regulations should also be adhered to".

Prof. Addo, addressing the opening of the first West African International Workshop on Coastal Land Subsidence in Accra on Tuesday, said countries that recorded centimetres of subsidence have had cities and communities washed away.

The Engulf Research Programme is a two-year project funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and a collaboration between the University of Ghana, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and other partners from the United States of America, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria and Senegal.

The project focuses on addressing knowledge gaps in coastal land subsidence and relative sea-level rise along the Gulf of Guinea.

Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of the earth's surface. Land subsidence effects
include cracks on buildings, sinking of buildings, functionality or integrity of roads, subways and underground utility networks.

Prof. Addo cautioned against the rising activities in underground water extraction, sand winning and salt mining activities in the country.
He cited the various cracks and sinking of buildings in the country as signs of land subsidence.

Prof. Addo said it was important that "we think outside the box and consider storing rainwater as the alternative as a result of water pollution."
He said organising the workshop in Ghana was strategic because Gulf of Guinea countries were experiencing increasing flooding incidents and coastal erosion challenges.
He noted that although climate change had induced sea level rise and had been identified as a major driver of the hazards along the coast, the role of gradual lowering of the land surface, which is subsidence on the delta region, had not been part of discussions.

Prof. Addo said there was a need to bring those challenges into discussions as subsidence had resulted in relative sea level rise along several vulnerable coastal communities.
He said the workshop would therefore offer them a platform to share their research results, and experience and help them to develop strategies to mainstream subsidence in an integrated coastal zone management agenda.

"It is my hope and prayer that we would be able to build a network of coastal land subsidence scientific communities in the sub-region after the workshop," he added.

Prof. Addo was optimistic the pilot research project in Ghana would be replicated in the various countries along the coast, especially in Nigeria.

Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana, the Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, said apart from extraction of groundwater used for domestic use and agriculture use, Salant groundwater for salt mining was also a major threat to subsidence when it comes to the stability of the coast.

Professor Augustine Ocloo, the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana in a speech read on his behalf said addressing complex challenges such as coastal land subsidence required collaboration across scientific fields.

Prof. Ocloo said he was elated that research would fetch a lot of ideas in advancing impactful research that would bring solutions to communities and society at large.
He was optimistic that participants would develop strategies that protect the coastal region and improve livelihood.

Dr Marine Canesi, a Representative of the French Development Agency said the Organisation, worked in the field of education and climate impact in areas they operated, and that the agency was a strong supporter of research which was evidence-based and addressed emerging issues.

Dr Cenesi said the workshop has been designed to assess the vulnerability of coastal communities in the Gulf of Guinea and assess the driving forces of land subsidence.