UNESCO-TWAS-funded study warns of growing threats to Ghana's wetlands

A research project funded by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has revealed increasing environmental pressures on some of Ghana’s key wetlands, with rapid urbanisation and pollution posing threats to their sustainability.

The study, conducted by the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), found significant expansion of built-up areas around the Densu and Sakumo wetlands in Accra since 2013.

According to the research completed in late 2025, built-up areas around the Densu Wetland increased by 114%, while those around the Sakumo Wetland grew by 186%.

The study also detected elevated levels of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium, in some locations, exceeding recommended safety guideline values.

Researchers warned that if current trends continue, further urban expansion and wetland degradation could occur by 2033 and 2043, potentially affecting the ecological functions of the wetlands and their role in sustainable water resource management.

The findings were highlighted during a visit by a delegation from TWAS, a programme unit of UNESCO, to NNRI to assess the impact of the TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) programme, which supported the research.

The project was led by Dr Cynthia Laar, Senior Research Scientist and Manager of the Water Resources Research Centre (WRRC) at NNRI.

Dr Laar, who was among the first cohort of African scientists selected for the competitive SG-NAPI programme, said the research provided scientific evidence that could guide policies to protect and restore Ghana’s wetlands.

“Our findings indicate that if current trends continue, these wetlands will face further degradation in the coming decades,” she said.

She explained that the grant enabled her team to acquire research equipment, train students, strengthen collaborations and generate data to support environmental decision-making.

The Densu and Sakumo wetlands, both Ramsar sites, play important roles in supporting biodiversity, regulating water systems, controlling floods and sustaining livelihoods in surrounding communities.

Dr Laar cautioned that continued encroachment and pollution could weaken these functions and increase environmental risks.

The Director of NNRI, Prof. Samuel Yao Ganyaglo, said the visit demonstrated the importance of international research support in strengthening scientific institutions and addressing national development challenges.

He noted that funding opportunities such as those provided by TWAS were critical in helping African researchers generate evidence-based solutions.

“The support for scientific research in many African countries remains limited. Grants such as those provided by TWAS help scientists generate evidence-based solutions to national problems and contribute meaningfully to policy development,” he said.

Associate Programme Officer at TWAS, Ms Payal Patel, said the SG-NAPI programme was established to support early-career African scientists and help them build independent research careers in their home countries.

She said the programme receives about 300 applications annually from across Sub-Saharan Africa but awards only between 25 and 28 grants each year.

The TWAS delegation, led by Ms Patel and accompanied by Public Information Officer Giovanni Ortolani and Programme Assistant Memoth Kanniakonil, also toured research facilities at NNRI, including the National Isotope Hydrology Laboratory and the Accelerator Research Centre.

The research contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, and the protection of life on land and below water.