Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister has assured residents of tidal waves-hit communities in Ketu South, that the government is taking steps to prevent the loss of life due to the recurring menace.
Addressing residents from the three affected communities of Agavedzi, Amutinu and Salakope during a visit, he said the new government was aware of the devastating impact of tidal waves on them and was committed to taking immediate measures to protect the lives of residents in the interim, while finding long-lasting solutions to the problem.
The sea water invasion had destroyed some homes and properties, rendering hundreds of residents homeless and distraught, not sparing the homes of the dead (cemetery), thus, forcing community members to exhume bodies of their relatives for reburial.
Some residents who spoke to Ghana News Agency (GNA) said at least, two middle-aged women whose homes were completely taken by the sea died after suffering heart attacks.
They complained that all was not well with their people, as many of them had become traumatised after losing their homes and properties to the raging sea, which had been ravaging the communities in recent years.
The Regional Minister who led a delegation including heads of security agencies and officials from National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to the area, said the Mahama-led government could not afford to be indifferent to the plight of the people.
“We are aware of your situation and are determined to take proactive measures to prevent the loss of life,” he said.
He mentioned that the Regional Security Council had after a meeting, tasked NADMO to pitch camp here with the people to prevent any form of disasters, knowing well that there were homes that were partially destroyed, and the inhabitants may try to go in and out of them.
In addition, health workers from the Ghana Health Service, would be arriving from next week Thursday to provide medical services to the affected residents, screening them for various health conditions, with a Clinical Psychologist on standby to offer help to victims who might need them, the Minister said.
Mr Sylvester Kumawu, the Assemblyman for Amutinu/Salakope, said there was the urgent need for an extension of the sea defense project to the area, noting that if the problem remained unattended to, it would not take long for neighbouring communities including the border town to Aflao, to go extinct and for the sea to go on a rampage taking over the Keta-Aflao Road and destroying anything in its way.
Mr Eben Assah, the Assemblyman for Agavedzi, also pleaded with the government to heed their cry and intervene, to restore hope to the affected communities, as the issue had affected all sectors of their life including economic activities, education and health.
Torgbui Emmanuel Anomoo Tettey, the Chief Fisherman for Salakope, called for a more holistic approach in tackling the sea’s devastation saying, dredging should not be ruled out.
Torgbui Akponoguia IV, the Chief of Agavedzi, on behalf of the communities, thanked Mr Gunu and the team for the gift of some relief items from the delegation for victims of Thursday evening’s (February 27) tidal incursion and expected real work to soon start, to permanently end the perennial occurrence.
GNA
MA/CAA
01 March 2025
Pic attached
