Some Members of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region have expressed deep concerns about the growing destruction of the coastline within the region.
According to Minority Members of Parliament in the Volta Region, President Akuffo Addo and the New Patriotic Party administration seem much unperturbed by the extensive damage occurring along the coast in the region.
The Members of Parliament led by Emmanuel Bedzrah, the leader of the Volta National Democracy Congress Members of Parliament, and Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip, conducted visits to affected communities in the Anlo, Keta, and Ketu South Municipalities, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
In a interview with the media, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, a Member of Parliament for the Adaklu constituency, declared that the NDC’s support for the government hinges on its commitment to include the Keta Sea Defense Project in its 2024 budget.
“Bawumia is busily looking for votes and does not even care about the people that are going to vote for him and God willing, he will not be a president…if we don’t see anything in the 2024 budget, then forget it, he will not get our support for anything at all.”
Governs Kwame Agbodza,
Ketu South MP Appeals For Government Intervention
Additionally, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament for the Ketu South constituency, appealed to the government to activate the West African Coastline Management Area Resilient Fund to expedite the completion of the sea defence project.
“I am told that the World Bank and the IMF have some arrangements with Benin and Togo for the West African Coastline Management Area Resilient Fund. Why is our country not participating in that exercise, why are we not applying for it so we save the coastline of our shores?”
Abla Dzifa Gomashie
The Ketu South legislator, Honorable Abla Dzifa Gomashie therefore called on the government to make an effort to mobilize funds to complete the construction of the sea defense project in the area
Since the start of the year, strong ocean currents have swept away both businesses and residential properties, rendering thousands of southern Volta Region residents homeless.
In August 2021, over 15 communities in the Anloga District and Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region were hit by tidal waves.
The communities included; Fuveme, Dzita, Akplorwortor, Agbledomi, Atsiteki, Anyanui, and Atokor in the Anloga District, and Amutinu, Salakorpe in the Ketu South Municipality respectively.
Many structures including newly constructed schools were also affected. A local guesthouse and lodging place called ‘Meet Me There African Home Lodge’, a healthcare centre and several other houses were rendered uninhabitable.
The main road along the stretch was also covered with seawater, making vehicular and human traffic difficult.
Moreover, farmlands were e also not spared, as many of them, were been submerged. At Anyanui for instance, tomato and cassava farms were also destroyed, a situation which affected agricultural production in the area.
According to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), more than 200 homes were destroyed while almost 4000 people were displaced by the high tides that swept through some communities in the Volta Region in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, disclosed on Monday, November 7 2021 that the Finance Ministry will allocate funds for the construction of the second phase of the Keta Sea defense wall.
According to Mr Asenso-Boakye, the completion of works under the second phase of the project is expected to cover a minimum coastal stretch of 8km.
Notwithstanding the promise of the Minster, the second phase of the Keta Sea Defense project has not seen the light of the day.
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