The Minister for Works and Housing, Honorable Asenso–Boakye, has expressed hope that the upcoming budget reading will capture the funds for the second phase of the Keta sea defense wall.
Speaking on efforts by his Ministry to construct the second phase of the wall, he indicated that it is in talks and is working with the Finance Ministry to allocate funds for the construction of the second phase of the project.
Commenting on the calls by the concerned stakeholders to commence the second phase of the project, Mr. Asenso- Boakye averred that the key thing is working hard to raise the money and not just commencing the project.
“We are in constant touch with the ministry of finance to sum all commitments. We are very hopeful that as he speaks next week on the current policy of the government for 2022, we hope it will be captured in the budget,;then we start the process for the second phase”.
Asenso- Boakye
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Asenso-Boakye noted that negotiations are still ongoing with the Finance Ministry;to release funds for the second phase of the project that will cushion;the people in the Keta Municipality against the brutal effects of tidal waves. Also
“My Ministry has started the process for the implementation of the second phase of the project. All the technical evaluations have been done and;currently, we are actively working with the Ministry for Finance to raise the funds to start the implementation of the second phase of the project”.
Asenso- Boakye
Housing Minister on project timelines
Touching on the timelines for the second phase of the project,;Asenso-Boakye noted that normally,;a typical sea defense projects last for four years, but given the capacity of the contractor,;some are able to complete ahead of schedule.
He posited that the second phase of the project; will be implemented within a specific period of time to see to its full completion.
“For now, I want to concern myself with working hard with the Ministry for Finance. At the end of the day that’s the bottom line, if you don’t have the money, you can’t implement it. As to whether it will last for four years, that’s not the key thing here”. Also
Asenso- Boakye
According to Asenso-Boakye, the completion of works under the second phase of the project is expected to cover a minimum coastal stretch of eight kilometres. Also
The Minister’s comments come after stakeholders called for the construction of the second phase of the Keta sea defense wall,; days after tidal waves ravaged homes of residents in Anloga and Keta in the Volta Region. At least 3,000 people in the Keta Municipality have been rendered homeless after tidal waves swept through their homes over the weekend.
This year’s waves have affected many households and individuals, mainly displacing many residents and destroying fishing equipment, livestock, and other valuables. Communities such as Abutiakope, Kedzikope and Keta Central were largely affected with residents left with nothing to salvage.
