NADMO Warns Keta Could Be Lost To The Sea If Coastline Is Not Protected

• The National Disaster Management Organisation said Keta's coastline could be gone in a few years if the government and private sector do not work to save it
• The NADMO Deputy National Coordinator, Seji Saji, said the situation at Keta exceeds the mandate of NADMO and needs urgent attention
• He urged the government to finally complete the sea defence to protect the coastline

The National Disaster Management Organisation has warned that Keta’s coastline in the Volta Region risks being permanently lost to the sea if the government does not take immediate action.

NADMO’s Deputy National Coordinator, Seji Saji, relayed the warning in an interview on JoyFM on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

He stated that Keta’s coastal erosion situation exceeds the mandate of NADMO and requires a holistic national response.

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He said the alarming rate at which the sea is swallowing up the coastline at Keta is a national crisis and deserves the urgent attention of all Ghanaians, particularly the government.

Seji Saji said the coastal erosion situation has been going on for decades, and while several efforts have been made to mitigate the phenomenon, they have paled in the face of fast-rising sea levels.

He said the only solution is to secure the entire coastline of Keta.

He noted that NADMO’s mandate is to engage stakeholders in developing a disaster management plan that includes measures for potential displacement and other humanitarian challenges; however, solving the root cause of coastal erosion would require more than disaster management.

Seji Saji has urged the government to complete the sea defence projects across the Keta coastline to protect key national installations close to the country’s shores.

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He said the Ghana Geological Survey Authority has predicted that Ghana could lose significant portions of its coastline in the next 40 to 50 years.

Ghana could lose two-thirds of coastline to erosion

The Ghana Hydrological Authority also stated that about two-thirds of Ghana’s coastline is at risk of sea erosion and needs immediate attention to prevent the destruction of critical national assets.

Dr John Kissi, during a media briefing, noted that approximately 310 km of Ghana’s 550 km coastline is vulnerable and needs urgent protection.

He warned that if the issue is left unattended, critical infrastructure, including the Abaodze Power enclave, the Denu-Aflao Highway, St. Augustine’s College, and the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College, will be affected.

He stated that if the Aboadze Power enclave is affected, the nation risks losing 730 megawatts from the national grid, which could worsen the country's power crisis.

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Dr Kissi has urged the government and the private sector to invest significantly in coastal and climate adaptation and management strategies to protect the country’s coastline.

He said the government and the private sector have vested interests in Ghana’s coastline and should do more to protect it.

Activist shares possible solutions to sea erosion

Climate activist and journalist Helena Ama Cromwell expressed concern about the situation in an interview with YEN.com.gh.

She noted that sea erosion in the Keta area is a significant environmental and social issue that needs immediate attention.

"Over the years, the relentless encroachment of the sea has led to the loss of property, displacement of communities, and destruction of infrastructure.

"This erosion not only affects the livelihoods of local residents, many of whom depend on fishing and farming but also threatens the area's cultural heritage and historical significance," she said.

She suggested that aside from the construction of a sea defence, the government should alternatively invest in mangrove restoration among others to protect the coastline.

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"In my view, constructing sea defence would be one of the many ways to stop this erosion. Alternatively, mangrove restoration and planting more coconut trees can be very helpful," she said.

Lecturer wins grant for anti-coastal erosion project

YEN.com.gh reported that Dr Cyril Dziedzorm Boateng, a KNUST Physics lecturer, has secured a $272,800.00 grant for a project to protect the coast and manage coastal erosion hazards in Keta, Ghana.

Using integrated geophysical methods, the initiative focuses on preserving the cultural heritage and combating the challenges of coastal erosion.

Dr Boateng expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to sustainable coastal management.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh