Assessing The Impact Of Tidal Waves On Coastal Communities: A Case Study Of Kporkporgbor And Fuveme

Abstract

Coastal communities along Ghana’s eastern shoreline face recurrent tidal wave events that disrupt livelihoods, damage housing, and intensify social vulnerability. While prior studies have focused largely on physical and economic impacts, limited attention has been given to how media communication shapes community awareness, preparedness, and adaptation. This study examines the socio-economic impacts of tidal waves and analyses the role of media communication in influencing risk perception and adaptive behaviour in Kporkporbor and Fuveme in the Volta Region of Ghana. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining household surveys of two hundred residents with in-depth interviews involving community leaders, media practitioners, and disaster management officials. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation tests, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. Findings show that tidal waves are frequent rather than episodic, leading to persistent income loss, housing damage, and displacement. Livelihood disruption was reported by over four-fifths of respondents, with fishing and salt mining households most affected. Radio and community-based channels emerged as the most accessible and trusted sources of information. However, communication effectiveness is constrained by delayed warnings, fragmented institutional coordination, and limited integration of local knowledge, reducing preparedness and adaptive action. The study demonstrates that media communication functions as a critical mediator between hazard exposure and community adaptation. Strengthening localized, timely, and coordinated communication systems alongside institutional collaboration is essential for enhancing coastal resilience and informing disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation policy in Ghana and similar coastal contexts.