Residents in tidal wave prone communities in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region have expressed their gratitude to the government for commencing works on the Blekusu Phase Two Sea Defence Project.
The communities include Salakope, Agavedzi, Amutsinu and the surrounding communities.
They said that the government’s efforts to award the contract for the continuation of the sea defense project would provide much-needed protection to the communities from further devastation.
Mr. Sylvester Kumawu, the Assembly Member of the area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said that the victims along the coast had lost hope after the tidal wave devastation which destroyed homes and livelihoods but the government’s decision to award the contract for the continuation of the Blekusu sea defense project has restored their hope for a better future.
“We are now seeing some progress and development, the communities are now looking forward to the completion of the project, we thank President Mahama and his administration,” he said.
He explained that the residents of Salakope, Amutsinu and Agavedzi were grateful to the government for the response to their plight which would alleviate their struggles to cope with the aftermath of the tidal wave, while the contract awarded for the sea defense project has brought relief that would provide protection they needed many years ago.
“The sea defense project is a critical infrastructure project that will provide protection to us from future tidal waves in the subsequent years,” he said.
Mr. Kumawu said that the project when completed is expected to further prevent erosion and flooding which have been a major concern for the communities along the coast and the project would also help to restore the livelihoods of communities and provide a sense of security.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, on a working visit to Blekusu, on Friday, June 13, reaffirmed that government has initiated the project and after careful evaluation, Messrs. Amandi Holding Limited has been selected to execute the project.
He said that the duration of the project would be four years (2025-2029) and would involve the construction of robust coastal defense designed to mitigate the impact of tidal waves and prevent further erosion which is expected to protect a total stretch of eight kilometres to safeguard the areas.
He said the project would also provide other ancillary facilities which include a fish market, fish drying and smoking areas, a car park and lorry station, public washrooms and a waste collection system.
Some of the benefit the project is expected to provide were to halt coastal erosion, enhance fishing activities, protection of lives and property, boost local tourism, create job and support economic growth, improve sanitation and protect the environment among others.
Many affected residents of the area GNA engaged, thanked President John Dramani Mahama and the entire government administration for the efforts to prevent further tidal waves devastation in the area and restore livelihoods.
GNA also observed that some engineers ‘ were busily working at the seashore for arrangement of the main work to commence while a sod cutting ceremony is expected to be held in two weeks’ time by President Mahama for Blekusu phase two sea defense wall to start.
Source: GNA
