By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has visited Fuveme in the Anloga Constituency of the Volta Region to assess the devastating impact of tidal erosion on coastal communities. The visit comes amid growing concerns over the sea’s encroachment, which is threatening livelihoods and attempting to create a new estuary linking the Keta Lagoon directly to the sea.
The coastal stretch at Fuveme continues to suffer the harsh effects of tidal waves, with large portions of land gradually being washed away, affecting homes and fishing activities in the area. The situation has been worsened by changes in the natural flow of water, as the Keta Lagoon, which traditionally empties into the sea through the Ada estuary, now faces pressure from siltation, forcing the sea to carve an alternative outlet.
President Mahama, who toured the affected communities, said government is aware of the urgency of the situation and is taking both immediate and long-term steps to address the challenge.
He explained that the area forms part of the World Bank-supported West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme (WACA), a 150-million-dollar project aimed at protecting vulnerable coastal communities across the region.
The President noted that previous interventions, including the Keta Sea Defence Project under the Jerry John Rawlings administration, as well as the Dzita–Akleutoko and Blekusu projects initiated during his earlier tenure, have helped protect parts of the coastline. However, he stressed that the remaining vulnerable areas, including Fuveme, will be addressed under the WACA project.
He revealed that the project has completed its feasibility stage and is currently at the design phase, after which procurement and construction are expected to begin. The intervention will include the construction of sea defence walls, installation of groynes to reduce wave impact, and planting of coconut trees and mangroves to stabilise the coastline and protect against further erosion.
In the interim, President Mahama said government will engage the Volta River Authority to undertake dredging of the estuary to ease pressure and restore the natural flow of water into the sea, thereby reducing the immediate impact on affected communities.
He assured residents that funding for the WACA project remains intact despite challenges affecting other World Bank-supported programmes, and called for patience and cooperation as processes are expedited to commence full-scale work.
As part of the tour, President Mahama also inspected ongoing sea defence construction at the Akplorwutokor community, where efforts are underway to protect coastal settlements from further erosion.
In between the visits, he paid a courtesy call on the Awoamefia of Anlo, Togbui Sri III, at his palace in Anloga, where he briefed the traditional authority on government’s interventions and sought continued cooperation.
The President later proceeded to Blekusu in the Ketu South Municipality, where he inspected the ongoing Phase II of the sea defence wall at Salakope, Amutsunu and Agavedzi, projects aimed at providing long-term protection for coastal communities exposed to tidal waves.
President Mahama reaffirmed government’s commitment to completing the Blekusu Phase II project and advancing the broader WACA intervention to safeguard lives, property and livelihoods along Ghana’s eastern coastline.
