KORLE LAGOON; But before i proceed with the korle lagoon;This blog is specifically created to elaborate on lakes and rivers in Ghana, Greater Accra to be precise and it's socio-historical impact on the towns they flow through in their journey to the sea. Lakes and rivers tend to contribute significantly as well as affect the people living alongside it(lake).
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Man at work

Filth in the lagoon

Filth in the lagoon

  -Link ( https://drive.google.com/?tab=oo&authuser=0#my-drive) to an audio interview with a local residence. According to the narrator (woman), the lagoon is filled with pure water rubbers and rubbish so it doesn't allow fish into the lagoon as compared to previous periods, so now a days they buy their fish from the fishermen after they've return from fishing and smoke and sell them to cater for their children.



Korle Lagoon is a lake which is situated in Korle-Gonno in Ghana's capital, Greater Accra. History has it that the name Korle is the name of a goddess . It is recorded that the lagoon was named after the town which simply means that the lagoon has been in existence before the town' Korle-Gonno'. The name Korle-Gonno is a Ga word which means 'lake mountain'. The sea which is adjacent to the lagoon extend it excess to the lagoon when it overflows, same applies to the the lagoon. The lagoon is known to be one of the most pollutant places on earth.

The main inlets into the Korle-lagoon are the Odaw river with river Onyasia as its major tributary, these rivers drains from the northern part of Accra such as Ashongman, Agbogba, Haatso, Achimota etc. The Onyasia for instance drains from Okponglo through Alajo to join the Odaw and enters into the sea. For instance, the dirt that has been swept from places like markets in Accra (Agogbloshie market) passes through the Odaw river which eventually leads to the Korle-lagoon.  One of the channels which leads to the Atlantic ocean is the Odaw river and any form of hindrances to it flow causes flooding whenever it rains heavily                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

One social impact of the Korle-lagoon is it ability as serving as a reservoir for most cities industrial and human waste. Korle-Bu for instance discharges all it waste product straight into the lagoon and eventually into  the sea,same applies to it's neighboring market squares such as Agbogbloshi. The lagoon also serves as latrine for most families, because of lack of KVIP facilities in their homes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Years ago, the lagoon use to provide income to the fishermen  in the form of salt yield and fish, but recently due to the pollutant of the lagoon, their source of income now generate  from the sea. Most times after the men have returned from fishing, the women take the burden and responsibility of  smoking as well as selling some of fish since that is their source of livelihood. It is believed that people settle around the lagoon with the hope to make a living out of fishing as well as the salt they extract.                                                                

The Korle-lagoon is associated with a great spiritual significance to it people,it is said to be inhabited by a woman goddess who was named 'Korle' and since then most priestess have adopted the name and even some parents name their children after the lagoon(Korle).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Though the Korle lagoon has been dredged many times,but still impossible to avoid it's pollutant due to the bad attitude from it's surrounding cities. Also due to waste human excreta which is mostly flashed into the sea it makes it impossible to avoid the stench which at the end brings about sickness to it's environs.                                                                                                                                                                                      

 Culturally, it is the custom of the people to pay homage to the lagoon yearly. This is done mainly in August during the Homowo festival with chiefs, traditional priest, elders as well as the people of the town. They do this to give thanks to the goddess for seeing them through the year and being solicitude towards them.