Tema New Town Faces Imminent Submergence as Coastal Erosion Ravages Homes, Claims Life

A rapidly advancing wave of coastal erosion is pushing sections of Tema New Town to the brink of submergence, placing thousands of residents at imminent risk of displacement and raising serious questions about decades of state neglect, urban planning failures, and the cost of national development on indigenous communities.

Large portions of the coastal stretch at Awudum, U, and Tooh have been severely eroded by the Atlantic Ocean, undermining the foundations of residential structures and leaving houses precariously suspended over steep, crumbling shorelines. Several homes have already collapsed, while others are visibly unsafe for habitation.
Residents warn that without urgent government intervention, tens of thousands of people could be forced from their ancestral lands, a community that has already sacrificed significant territory for major national infrastructure projects, including the Tema Harbour and allied industrial developments.

Erosion, Displacement, and a Question of Patriotism

Tema New Town, historically occupied by indigenous Tema people, has over the years ceded substantial land for national development. Community members now question whether that patriotism has been repaid with neglect.
“Those who gave up their land for Ghana’s progress are today being left at the mercy of the sea,” a resident lamented during a site visit by VoiceAfrica News.

The crisis is compounded by land-use decisions inland. While the south-eastern coastline is being steadily consumed by the ocean, the north-eastern side—the last stretch available to the indigenes—has been zoned by TDC Ghana Limited as a light industrial area, effectively boxing residents into a shrinking and increasingly unsafe space.

National Security at Risk

Beyond the humanitarian and environmental implications, the erosion poses a threat to critical national assets. Sections of the road network serving Tema are exposed, while the advancing sea also endangers facilities of the Eastern Naval Command, one of the two main commands of the Ghana Armed Forces responsible for safeguarding the country’s territorial waters.

Security analysts caution that continued inaction could escalate the issue from a local environmental crisis into a national security concern.

Death Highlights Urgency

During VoiceAfrica’s field investigations, tragedy struck. A portion of the already weakened shoreline collapsed, claiming the life of one resident, a stark reminder that the crisis is no longer a looming threat but an active disaster.
Families interviewed expressed fear, frustration, and uncertainty, citing years of petitions to authorities with little or no response.

Traditional Authorities Recall Ignored Warnings

The Shippi of the Awudum Quarters of the Tema Traditional Council, Nii Armarh Somponu, said the current disaster was long foreseen.
According to him, traditional leaders warned authorities before the construction of the Tema Harbour that the project would alter coastal dynamics and exert erosion pressure on the eastward shoreline. Similar concerns, he said, were raised again during the MPS expansion works about a decade ago, but were disregarded.
“Our forefathers warned that without protective measures, our homes would be washed away. Those warnings were ignored, and today we are witnessing the consequences,” he stated.
He further warned that relocating affected residents now would be nearly impossible, as TDC Ghana Limited has already exhausted the remaining land allocated to the Tema people, a move he described as disrespectful to traditional authority and insensitive to the plight of indigenous residents.

Experts Call for Immediate Defence Measures

Maritime and environmental experts say the situation demands urgent, evidence-based intervention.
The Centre for International Maritime Affairs Ghana (CIMAG), a maritime and environmental policy think tank, has called for immediate action to prevent further loss of life and property.
CIMAG’s Executive Director, Mr. Albert Derrick Fiatui, said while it may be difficult to conclusively attribute the erosion solely to the harbour construction, the risks are undeniable.
“In the short term, a coastal defence wall is critical to protect lives and infrastructure. In the long term, government must adopt an integrated coastal management strategy, which CIMAG has consistently advocated,” he noted.
A Test of Governance and Equity
The unfolding crisis at Tema New Town underscores broader governance challenges in Ghana’s coastal management regime—balancing development, environmental sustainability, indigenous rights, and national security.
As climate change intensifies sea-level rise and coastal erosion, experts warn that Tema New Town could become a precedent-setting case of how—or how not—Ghana responds to climate-driven displacement.
For now, residents wait anxiously as the sea advances, hoping that the latest loss of life will finally galvanize decisive action.
CIMAG in partnership with the VoiceAfricaonline.com will continue to investigate and monitor the situation, bringing updates as developments unfold.