Between Sand and Water

Dates

2019 - Ongoing
Author

Ofoe Amegavie
Topics Social Issues, Documentary

Between Sand and Water explores the everyday life and resilience of coastal communities around the Volta Delta in Ghana in the face of climate change and other environmental and man-made challenges

Ada-Foah and Keta are neighbouring fishing towns based on either side of the Volta Delta, situated on Ghana’s coast where the Volta meets the Atlantic ocean. The area is home to important mangroves and other aquatic cultures which the communities depend on. The photos show the communities of Azizanya, Azizakpe and Kewuno which are located close to Ada-Foah.

Shoreline erosion and subsequent flooding have increased the damages to homes and infrastructure and general way of life. The communities have resulted in adopting resilient but unsustainable mitigation and adaptation measures to protect their homes ie building walls and landfilling using the rubbish which gathers into the community during the high tide. In other places such as Wasakuse and Anyanui, the community members are engaging in mangrove restoration projects to help restore the ecosystems that were diminishing due to human activities such as mangrove harvesting for firewood.

With this project, Ofoe wants to explore the resilience of the communities and how they cope with the consequences of the constant environmental challenges in their everyday lives. It explores the relationship between the people, the sea and the land. The resilience found among the people along the coast includes wide-ranging activities such as the restoring and preserving of the mangroves which are an essential part of the ecosystem of Volta Delta.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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The community of Azizakpe Island, similarly as other small island communities situated around the estuary of the Volta River, suffers the direct effects of rising sea levels and storms which, at times, last for a week

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Coconut trees have declined over the years on the shores around the Volta Delta. It is an indicator of how much land has been lost to the effects of coastal erosion. Today, the shores of Azizakpe and other communities are lined with sandbags, which, though not enough, are supposed to protect homes. According to community members a Government-led sea defense project has also been mostly ineffective in protecting them from rising sea levels

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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A family living in Kewunor, a community of Ada-Foah. Most families here depend on fishing for their livelihoods. Many families have been displaced or separated due the continuous destruction of their homes and property due to rising sea levels. Family members recount times when they are woken up by storms at 3am and have to protect their livestock as well as themselves. The resilience however of these families is evident as they take measures to build defense walls including using rubbish which the ocean carries into the community.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Daily life in Kewunor: a young man is getting his hair done by his friends. The youth of Kewunor is mostly involved in fishing activities as well as in the local tourism industry. They organise boat tours around the islands and mangroves. Many have been at the forefront of the resistance against plans of private real estate companies intending to build luxury holiday homes. The youth demand better relocation proposals that allow them to keep having access to the Volta River which provides the major source of income for most.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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A man is cleaning his motorbike in the Volta River. Commercial bikes, locally known as Okada, are a major type of occupation for the youth of Kewuno

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Moving homes: remnants of abandoned buildings in the community of Totope partially covered in sand indicate the fate of many of Ghana’s coastal villages. The Totope community is sandwiched between the ocean and the Songho lagoon. Families living in this community have found themselves moving further back from the shore and needing to fill up part of the lagoon with sand from the beach and other materials to create space for new homes.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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A man is carrying a roofing sheet after dismantling what was left of his home following an event of flooding that destroyed most of his property. Many families end up relocating to other close-by communities when homes are destroyed to start life over again.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - School books left to dry in the sun after flooding caused by a storm and high tide in Azizakpe.

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School books left to dry in the sun after flooding caused by a storm and high tide in Azizakpe.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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The communities have adopted resilient but often unsustainable mitigation and adaptation measures to protect themselves and their homes. In absence of effective sea defense structures, this includes the building of walls, and filling of land using the rubbish which gathers into the community during the high tide.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Damaged homes: properties close to the shores of the Volta River are particularly vulnerable to flooding events and storms.

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Damaged homes: properties close to the shores of the Volta River are particularly vulnerable to flooding events and storms.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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The communities have adopted resilient but often unsustainable mitigation and adaptation measures to protect themselves and their homes. In absence of effective sea defense structures, this includes the building of walls, and filling of land using the rubbish which gathers into the community during the high tide.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Remains of an abandoned Catholic Church on the shore of Totope which, today, is located on a slim stretch of land between the ocean and a lagoon.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Members of the Wasakuse community believe restoring depleted mangroves will revive the ecosystem they once knew. Activities such as replanting red mangrove are showing positive impacts. Certain birds people remember from their childhood have returned. Their children now have a chance to see them too.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Members of the Wasakuse community believe restoring depleted mangroves will revive the ecosystem they once knew. Activities such as replanting red mangrove are showing positive impacts. Certain birds people remember from their childhood have returned. Their children now have a chance to see them too.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Parts of restored mangroves in Obane community.

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Parts of restored mangroves in Obane community.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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Parts of the Volta Delta have large forests of mangroves that reach far inland. They are crucial for the communities since they protect the shorelines from storm damage and floods. But the communities also depend on them, economically; a dependence, that often leads to over-harvesting.

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

i

Coconut trees have declined over the years on the shores around the Volta Delta. It is an indicator of how much land has been lost to the effects of coastal erosion. Today, the shores of Azizakpe and other communities are lined with sandbags, which, though not enough, are supposed to protect homes. According to community members a Government-led sea defense project has also been mostly ineffective in protecting them from rising sea levels

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - An elderly fisherman helps the younger generation to set up their fishing nets on the shallow banks of the Volta River

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An elderly fisherman helps the younger generation to set up their fishing nets on the shallow banks of the Volta River

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

© Ofoe Amegavie - Image from the Between Sand and Water photography project

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