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Residents of Salakope and the surrounding communities in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region are pleading with the government to expedite work on the planned projects aimed at saving their communities from tidal waves.
The residents are concerned about the continuous devastating impact of the tidal waves that ravaged their homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure and called for immediate action.
Mr Sylvanus Kumawu, the Assembly Member of Salakope Electoral Area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, lamented about the neglect by authorities and expressed frustration over how government was unable to implement proper plans to put up projects to safeguard the communities from the tidal waves distractions.
“In the last few days, the tidal waves ravaged our community again, the rest of our buildings have been destroyed, and we are pleading with the government to take immediate action to address the situation,” he said.
He said many residents believed that urgent action is needed from the government to prevent further damages to their properties and further delay would also jeopardise and create more danger for communities and appealed to government to as a matter of urgency work on the projects to protect their homes and livelihoods from the tidal waves.
Mr Kumawu explained that many communities along the coast in the region were struggling to cope with the situation and were in dire need of assistance from the authorities to prevent any other unforeseen situations.
He said that after the visit of President John Dramani Mahama, Environmental Protection Authority and other stakeholders during the last few months devastations, no tangible physical actions have been taken to provide hope to residents about the continuation of the sea defense walls.
“What we need is the continuation of the sea defense project that has stalled for some years now, the foodstuffs and other relief items provided did not sustain our people beyond three weeks.”
Mr Kumawu said that it was the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens and provide them with a safe living environment and urged the authorities responsible to take their responsibilities seriously and provide the necessary support to save their communities.
He said the recent tidal waves has put keta to Aflao road, electricity poles, schools, health facilities and pipeline waters under threat which has affected the residents psychologically and needed urgent attention to resolve the situation.
Some other residents who interacted with GNA believed that government’s response to the situation would be critical in determining the fate of the communities while others hoped that government would take their plea seriously and provide the necessary support to save their communities.
They said the future of the communities depend on the government’s response to their cries and urgent action from the authorities may be possible to save the communities and prevent further damage and the consequences could be devastating if government fail to address the situation.
They said that “We don’t need relief items, government and philanthropists cannot continue to feed us; our communities are gradually being destroyed by the sea. We don’t even know if the money announced in the budget was for us or for the sea defence.”
GNA also observed that the recent tidal surge has destroyed many structures at Salakope, Amutsinu, Gavedzi and the surrounding communities and further destruction could cut off Keta-Aflao road which would make it difficult for motorists to use.
Source: GNA
