Cape Three Points, located in the Ahanta West Municipal of Ghana's Western Region, marks the southernmost tip of the nation. This small peninsula, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and near the Gulf of Guinea, is not only a fishing village but also an area known for Ghana's oil discovery.
Location of Western Region in Ghana where Cape Three Points is located.
Historical Significance
The name "Cape Three Points" originates from the convergence of three distinct capes in the area. These capes, offering a striking view from the lighthouse, were significant to sailors during early sea voyages to Ghana, though they posed navigational challenges to less cautious vessels.
The area's rich heritage has recently earned it recognition as a Key Biodiversity Area, globally acknowledged for its unique plant and animal life. The Gold Coast, a section of the coast of the Gulf of Guinea extending approximately from Axim, Ghana, or nearby Cape Three Points, in the west to the Volta River in the east, owes its name to its historical importance as a source of gold.
The British constructed the first lighthouse in 1875 as a navigational aid for trading vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea.
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The lighthouse at Cape Three Points.
Ecological Importance
Cape 3 Points’ 5000 hectares is the last remaining coastal forest in Ghana. The rainforest reserve has been extensively studied botanically, with plant collections dating as far back as the 1780s.
The forest was home to a dwindling population of two endangered colobus monkeys endemic to West Africa. The area that includes western Ghana and easter Ivory Coast is also a region of secondary endemism. These forests were inhabited by the three unique subspecies: the roloway monkey, distinguished by a white beard; the white-naped mangabey, which has a white nape in addition to other distinguishing coat patterns.
The story of the Cape Three Points is not different from other communities along Ghana’s 550-kilometer coastal line that have mangroves. Mangroves provides livelihoods for some three million Ghanaians.
Mangroves provided shelter, feeding grounds and spawning areas for many species of fish from freshwater and marine origin, enabling them to reproduce and avoid predation. There has been a reduction in Ghana’s mangrove cover from 137 to its current estimated area of 72.4 kilometer square between 2006 and 2014, according to a study led by Dr Francis E. K. Horwich initiated CC’s first project in Ghana at the Cape 3 Points Reserve Forest.
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Environmental Challenges
Despite its significance, Cape Three Points faces numerous environmental challenges. A major issue is the lack of waste disposal facilities, leading to garbage dumping at the habitat of sea foods. “We lack critical social amenities such as a waste disposal facility so we are forced to dump our garbage at that site.
“The water becomes heavily polluted, unhealthy and the whole environment becomes unconducive for biodiversity, especially fish to live and lay eggs. “They are so close that if we do not change our behaviour it will have a dire consequence.
“The sheet of plastic spread under the mangroves does not allow natural regeneration of mangrove seeds. When a seed drops on plastic it cannot grow.
Another significant threat is illegal gold mining within the reserve, which uses mercury as a coagulant for gold particles. Mercury can cause serious neural and health problems. The mining in pits and in the river will cause the mercury to reach both surface and ground water which is used by the surrounding villages.
The environmental problem is a serious one because the process uses mercury to coagulate the gold. Mercury in the situations we viewed will eventually pollute the surface and ground waters that are used by the nearby villages for drinking and will also affect the fish populations.
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Community and Conservation Efforts
Recognizing the importance of community involvement, various initiatives have been undertaken to promote conservation. In 2011, Horwich, accompanied by local villagers visited all of the villages around Cape 3 Points Forest Reserve to show them relevant examples of community conservation projects in Belize and India with a question period to find out about the needs of the villagers.
Horwich also explained how unique their forest and wildlife are and asked for their help in protecting it. Following these village meetings, CRC organized a general community meeting inviting 2 members from each village. There, the villagers discussed the successes and failures of some of the Ghana laws that involve community management of natural resources.
The interest of the communities in helping protect their forest led to a general meeting of all of the communities surrounding the forest. They pledged that, given the opportunity, they would protect the forest.
During that trip, Horwich also made contact with a partner of CRC, West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA), a regional NGO that is supported by and composed of a number of European Zoos. WAPCA’s staff is on a steering committee for Cape 3 Points to help with the primates.
In a follow up visit, Horwich and members of West African Primate Conservation Action and Coastal Resources Center met with the local community group (the Cape 3 Points CREMA) to discuss the status of the CREMA and what they have been doing for the past year. CREMA stands for Community Resource Management Areas. It was introduced into Ghana law in the early 2000s to encourage local communities to participate in forest sand wildlife conservation.
After more meetings in 2012, villagers who were part of a revived CREMA under the leadership of Rolan Acquah decided to appoint community monitoring teams of four patrollers from each village, begin setting up camps and begin a patrolling protection system. It was decided that the forest protectors would work together and share the salaries on a round robin basis so only one person per group would received a daily salary each patrol day Camps were made at selected areas so the teams of patrollers could share lunches together.
The CREMA consists of three inland ecosystems as well as the marine beaches and ecosystems. These include two wetland areas on the east and west side of the Reserve Forests and the Reserve Forest.
WAPCA, with the Wildlife Division of Ghana, are additionally searching un-surveyed forests to find new populations of primates in Ghana. One are that they are finding an abundance of primates is in a long wetlands extending along the border of Ivory Coast where there is an adjacent wetland swamp with primates as well.
Socio-Economic Conditions
The village has no good road. In fact, is has never had and may never have. The nearest health post is located about 50 kilometres from Cape Three Points.
The people of Cape Three Points depend on only one hand dug out well provided by World Vision. There is only one primary school, also provided by the same non-governmental organisation.
Tourism
Cape Three Points is not just about ecological and historical importance; it’s also a place of scenic beauty. The drive to Cape Three Points takes visitors through several rural communities, oil palm plantations and an extensive rubber plantation. You will view at first hand how fresh rubber is collected from the rubber trees, before being part-processed in Ghana and shipped to Europe. Between the views of crop farms and rubber plantations, you might have a bit of luck and run into a group of monkeys. As a bonus, visitors can spot various bird species and, occasionally, mig whales.
The area's defining feature is its striking rock formations, which are beautifully accentuated by the constant crash of the ocean waves. These geological wonders create a stunning landscape that is as captivating as it is calming.
The village of Cape Three Points is the southernmost community in Ghana, and its beach is one of the most beautiful along Ghana’s West Coast.
This Part Of Ghana Will Shock You 😳😳😳😳
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