The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu South, Maxwell Lugudor, has disclosed that residents along the coastal line in Ketu South have refused to relocate from the sea.
Mr. Lugudor indicated that he convinced and advised some residents of the area to relocate after the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) warned of a possible tidal wave due to the weather conditions which wouldn’t be favorable to residents along the coastal area. He averred the residents however, say they don’t believe another wave will hit.
“The meteorological agency gave us the notice that the tidal waves might hit the coast again. So, the immediate thing for us to do was to inform the people.”
Maxwell Lugudor
Touching on the number of communities to be evacuated within the coastal areas, he indicated they are four in number. He further disclosed Salakope, Ahia, Agavedzi and Adina as the communities along the coast greatly affected when the tidal waves happens along the coast in Ketu South.
The MCE revealed that residents in these areas have returned to resettle after the initial tidal wave hit cleared. “You know our people are fisher folks and so, if you are trying to relocate them far from the sea, trust me they will not go.”
“When you go there and you talk to the elderly people along the coasts, they will even tell you that, sometimes, they move along the wave pattern because they can see when there will be fish. They say when they see it, they quickly go and cast the net. So, they say when they go far, how will they come there to get fish?”
Maxwell Lugudor
Temporal structures being put up
Speaking on the steps to be taken considering the danger involved incase of another tidal wave, Mr. Lugudor revealed that since convincing them to relocate from the area has been futile, his office is putting up temporal structures to house the residents in case of another wave as has been cautioned.
“We don’t want a situation that when it happens, people will go and be sleeping in the church and classrooms whiles the kids will also be going to school. So, we are doing everything possible to prepare.”
Maxwell Lugudor
Mr. Lugudor further revealed that there is a highland that the area is trying to develop to get residents to occupy. He disclosed that the Municipality has received some sponsorship from Ghana Gas which will enable them put up 15 2-bedroom units to house residents. He averred that the actual target for the housing units is 100 but they will start with 15 for now.
“That is the place that they can relocate to. The place is not far from the coast, so, we can easily convinced them to move in. The contractor came to the site too. They will be connecting water and electricity. When you go to the highland, there is a water body you have to cross and with that they are constructing a place to the main road.”
Maxwell Lugudor
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