President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the upcoming Waka Project will extend Ghana’s coastal defence infrastructure from Blekusu to Aflao, providing further protection to vulnerable coastal communities in the Volta Region.
Addressing attendees during the sod-cutting ceremony for Phase II of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project in Blekusu on Saturday, July 19, President Mahama disclosed that the Waka Project is currently awaiting approval from the Ministry of Environment.
“The Waka project will take care of the rest of the coastline after where this one ends; all the way to Aflao,” he stated. “It will help to protect the coastline all the way to Aflao and to have beach replenishments. And so, the beaches will be expanded and the sea will be pushed back so that we can have more activity.”
He explained that the initiative forms part of efforts to reclaim land lost to coastal erosion, restore livelihoods, and enhance economic opportunities along the shore.
“The sea has taken a lot from this community. It has taken land, it has taken property, it has taken livelihoods and it has taken our peace of mind, but today I stand here to say, no more will the sea consume our land,” President Mahama declared.
The announcement follows the launch of Phase II of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project, which will construct 37 groynes and provide eight kilometres of robust coastal protection. The project also includes complementary facilities such as a fish market, cold storage, fish processing areas, lorry park, and public sanitation systems.
READ: Blekusu Coastal Protection Project: No more will the sea claim our lives – Mahama
President Mahama urged all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Ghana Hydrological Authority, the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, contractors, traditional leaders, and community members, to work together to ensure the project’s successful implementation.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
