President John Dramani Mahama has assured residents in coastal communities along the Volta Region that construction works under the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) project will begin soon as government intensifies efforts to tackle the growing threat of coastal erosion and tidal waves.
Speaking during a tour of affected communities, President Mahama acknowledged that the project experienced delays in 2024 due to the election period but indicated that preparations have resumed following his return to office.
The WACA project, supported by the World Bank with a funding package of US$150 million, is designed to protect vulnerable sections of Ghana’s coastline, particularly in areas such as Ketu South and parts of Anloga.
The initiative is expected to include the construction of sea defence systems, installation of groins to reduce wave impact, and ecosystem-based interventions such as mangrove and coconut tree planting to help stabilise the shoreline.
During his visit to Fuveme, a community near the estuary that has been severely affected by tidal waves, President Mahama explained that immediate measures are being considered to reduce the impact of flooding while the larger World Bank-backed project is prepared for implementation.
“In the meantime, we will contact VRA to see if they can do some dredging in the main estuary so that it eases the pressure on this side. Normally when the estuary is silted, it looks for ways to join the sea in other places, and that is exactly what is happening here. If we dredge it, it allows more water to flow into the sea,” he stated.
He added that while short-term interventions would be pursued, the long-term solution remains the commencement of the WACA coastal protection project.
President Mahama later visited Jita Anyanui, where he inspected an existing sea defence wall. He noted that despite being constructed several years ago, the project continues to withstand the impact of the sea.
“The electric poles were just by the road and the sea had affected some of the electric lines, so the contractors had to reposition the cables. But you can see that many years after we left office, the sea defence is still in very good condition,” he said.
The President also visited Agavedzi in the Ketu South Constituency, one of the communities hardest hit by tidal waves in recent years. Residents there have welcomed the commencement of Phase Two of the Blekusu Sea Defence Project, which is expected to provide additional protection for homes and livelihoods.
President Mahama assured residents that his administration remains committed to improving living conditions in vulnerable coastal communities and ensuring that long-term protection measures are fully implemented.
