Michael Nyam, Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Shama district of the Western Region, has expressed his outfit’s readiness to resettle residents along the Anlo beach community displaced by tidal waves.
He indicated that arrangements are underway with respect to preparing the land to put up structures for the victims. Mr Nyam explained that despite the ensuing litigation on the proposed land for resettlement, authorities are engaging feuding factions to resolve the issues.
“In fact, we are on it. When the incident happened, the district chief executive said categorically that we won’t sit down for the people to die while there is vast land. So, we will engage those who are [battling] over the land. He will engage them and talk to them… As for the resettlement, NADMO is ready to move the people there. Yesterday, the committee was there [and] they are clearing the land. They didn’t finish yesterday, [so] today, they will continue. We are taking this week to clear the land”.
Michael Nyam
Commenting on when the site will be ready for residents to relocate, Mr Nyam noted that work has already commenced, with construction to begin soon. He posited that his team will take “this week to weed the entire land”.
“So, from next week, the physical planning including the work department and the NADMO, [will] go to the site to demarcate the area for the members to start building”.
Michael Nyam
To facilitate the building of homes on the land, Mr Nyam revealed that NADMO along with the Shama Assembly have provided logistics to support construction. Additionally, he emphasized that the Director General of NADMO on his visit yesterday, promised to bring “building materials” to assist in building when construction begins.
“The assembly and NADMO have provided the land to the community… Maybe the Assembly too will meet, so that any help they can [offer] the people, they will send it”.
Michael Nyam
Mr Nyam revealed that to help alleviate the plight of the people, the NADMO Director-General has parted with some relief items to cater to the needs of the affected persons.
Resolving litigation on resettlement land
Following the devastation caused by the tidal wave on residents in the Shama District, the District Chief Executive of Shama, Ebenezer Dadzie, revealed that a land allotted to relocate residents has become a point of litigation between two families. He underscored the need to hasten the process of resettling displaced persons to avert further loss and damages to lives and properties.
“If you look at how people have been displaced, it’s very bad. So, we spoke to them and we gave them the assurance that something is going to be done; that is, to move them permanently to the resettlement area… We know there are disputes about the land and on Friday, we are calling all those involved and talk to them, that we can’t wait any longer… So, we move them; when you have any case, come to us for us to settle”.
Ebenezer Dadzie
Currently, over four hundred residents have been rendered homeless following a tidal wave that swept into households in the Shama Municipality and several communities along some coastal parts of the country such as Amutinu Salakope, Agavedzi, Blekusu and Adina in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, as well as Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality of the Central Region.
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