…as Mahama breaks ground on crucial sea defence project after nearly a DECADE of inaction.
A tidal wave-battered community in Ghana’s Volta region has finally been thrown a lifeline after enduring years of devastating coastal erosion and government neglect.
President John Dramani Mahama has officially broken ground on Phase Two of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project, sparking scenes of jubilation from local residents who had been left to fend for themselves against the relentless Atlantic Ocean.
The emotional ceremony marks the end of a near-decade-long wait, during which a previous government seemingly turned a blind eye to the plight of thousands of people whose homes and livelihoods were being washed away.
“I can still picture the videos and images of the pain, anxiety, and fear,” a visibly moved President Mahama told the crowd. “Today, I am proud to say that this commitment is being fulfilled.”
A Project Abandoned
The Blekusu project was originally initiated under Mahama’s first administration in 2015, with 4.3 kilometres of sea defence walls built to protect vulnerable areas.
But for nearly ten years under the previous NPP administration, the crucial second phase stalled, despite repeated, desperate pleas from residents, chiefs, and local leaders.
During this period of government inaction, destructive tidal waves repeatedly struck the coastline, with particularly devastating hits in 2017 and 2021 that displaced families and destroyed properties.
Mahama, who returned to the region earlier this year and pledged to take action, framed the new project as a testament to “responsive and compassionate leadership.”
More Than Just a Wall
The newly launched initiative, to be completed by contractors Amandi Holdings Limited between 2025 and 2029, will see the construction of eight kilometres of robust coastal protection, including groynes and reinforced embankments.
However, the project goes far beyond a simple sea wall. The government plans to build comprehensive community infrastructure, including a modern fish market, cold storage facilities, dedicated fish drying areas, and a new lorry station.
This, Mahama said, is a “comprehensive resilience initiative—blending environmental protection with socio-economic infrastructure.”
The President also announced another major coastal initiative, the WACA Project, which will extend from Blekusu all the way to Aflao and include beach replenishment to push back the sea and expand the coastline.
In a powerful moment, Mahama acknowledged the community’s immense loss. “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,” he said.
“But today, I stand here to say: no more will the sea consume our land. We’re here to reclaim what has been lost, to rebuild stronger.”
For the people of Blekusu, the sound of the President’s shovel breaking ground was not just the start of a new construction project, but the return of hope itself.
By Leo Nelson