Resume Blekusu Sea defense project work immediately-Chiefs

Torgbiga Adama III, Paramount Chief of Somè Traditional Area, Ketu South has called on the Mahama government to immediately resume phase two of the stalled Blekusu Sea Defense Project.
He said this had become crucial at a time when the relentless tidal waves had wreaked on Salakope and parts of Havedzi and threatening to take over the Keta-Aflao Road saying, should the road be taken, there would be an even bigger disaster as not only coastal communities would be affected but also those inland.

Torgbiga Adama made the call while addressing a press conference on Monday at Agavedzi regarding the perennial tidal waves menace devastating especially the three communities of Agavedzi, Salakope and Amutinu.
“The government should see the current tidal wave onslaught on our communities as an emergency situation and call the contractor (Amandi Company) or the company that was awarded the contract – the contractor who started the sea defense project from Blekusu to parts of Agavedzi to return or resume work immediately to save the rest of the communities along the coastal area.”
“We are just left with the Keta-Aflao Road for the sea to enter the lagoon and when this happens, the lagoon would overflow its boundaries and flood adjoining communities. There is the likelihood of the devastating effect of the spill-over of the sea into the overflowing lagoon, reaching our traditional capital town of Somé, Agbozume,” he said.
The Paramount Chief appealed to the government to get the Ghana Gas Company to fulfill its promise of constructing some apartments to accommodate victims of the sea’s destruction.
“We are also appealing through the government to the Ghana Gas Company to quickly call the contractor they have awarded the contract to build some accommodation for the Salakope community, to support us get somewhere to put our heads, especially the women, children and the aged.
The contractor moved out of the site two years before the change of government and all efforts made by the traditional authority for the apartments to be made ready did not materialise.”
Additionally, Torgbiga Adama appealed to benevolent individuals and organisations to come to their aid by means of shelter and relief items including food to alleviate the plight of his people.
Mr Edward Kwadzo Eddah, Volta Region Steering Committee Chairman for West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ReSIP 2) who was also present at the press conference, told Ghana News Agency in an interview that he was happy for the Traditional Council’s intention to pay a courtesy call on the sector minister and possibly, the President towards getting their issue addressed.
He said the WACA project which aimed to address coastal erosion and flooding, pollution, restore coastal ecosystems especially mangroves and secure livelihoods, with beneficiaries being especially, people living along the coast and depending on it for their livelihoods, had already delayed and needed to be speedily implemented to address the problems of the people.
GNA