28 © 2023 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences Vol. 10, No. 1, 28-39, 2023 ISSN(E) 2313-8173 / ISSN(P) 2518-0134 DOI: 10.20448/arees.v10i1.4440 © 2023 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group An assessment of water quality and the locals' perception of coastal lagoon pollution in ghana: A case study of chemu lagoon in tema Kofi Adu-Boahen 1 Isaac Boateng 2 Emmanuel Yeboah Okyere 3 Sender Kyeremeh 4 ( Corresponding Author) 1,3,4 Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. 1 Email: kadu-boahen@uew.edu.gh 3 Email: eyokyere@uew.edu.gh 4 Email: k.sender.11@gmail.com 2 Department Construction and Wood Technology, Akenten Appiah Menkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana. 2 Email: isaac.boateng@uew.edu.gh Abstract The Chemu lagoon is not immune to pollution through chemical waste contamination, refuse disposals, and untreated household sewage, and hence has been chosen as a case study. This paper aims to assess the lagoon's level of pollution. Chemical analysis of water samples, field observations, and a structured survey questionnaire was used to assess the state of the lagoon. The study revealed that the Chemu lagoon has inferior water quality as most of the parameters evaluated were above the acceptable standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Significant differences in concentrations of water quality parameters were established between seasons. The study found that respondents were aware of the lagoon’s polluted state and attributed pollution to siltation and waste dumping. This leads to offensive odour, livelihood losses emphasising a reduction in fishing activities, and outbreaks of diseases in the area. Conclusively, stakeholders have not prioritised mitigating pollution of the lagoon. The study recommends that the Environmental Health and Waste Management Departments of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly intensify house-to-house hygiene education and sanitary inspection in the area. There should be education and sensitisation on proper waste management practices in the area. Keywords: Chemu lagoon, Citizen science, Lagoon, Pollution, Waste management, Water quality. Citation | Adu-Boahen, K., Boateng, I., Okyere, E. Y., & Kyeremeh, S. (2023). An assessment of water quality and the locals’ perception of coastal lagoon pollution in ghana: A case study of chemu lagoon in tema. Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 10(1), 28–39. 10.20448/arees.v10i1.4440 History: Received: 15 November 2022 Revised: 23 December 2022 Accepted: 10 January 2023 Published: 30 January 2023 Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Publisher: Asian Online Journal Publishing Group Funding: This study received no specific financial support. Authors’ Contributions: All authors contributed equally to the conception and design of the study. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Transparency: The authors confirm that the manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study; that no vital features of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been explained. Ethical: This study followed all ethical practices during writing. Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 2. Water Pollution in Ghana .............................................................................................................................................................. 30 3. Materials and Methods ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 4. Results ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31 5. Discussions ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 37 6. Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 38 References .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 38