Tidal Waves Washed-Out Homes in Sallakorpe, Agavedzi

 

By: Akpabli Daniel Yao

Residents of Agavedzi and Sallakorpe in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, have mounted roadblocks on the Denu-Keta Road to draw attention of government to as a matter of urgency come to their aid after Wednesday March 31, 2021 tidal waves rendered them homeless.

Their actions were triggered by a tidal wave which destroyed about 50 households in the community on Wednesday dawn rendering many residents homeless.

Residents in these coastal communities, located few kilometers from the Ketu south Municipal capital, have been victims of this natural phenomenon over the years.

According to them, several efforts are made to get to the authorities to help address the challenges but their hopes seems to be dashed out after the project stopped along the way.

According to reports, residents in these two fishing communities have experienced this situation some years back but failed to relocate due to their fishing businesses.

Some Residents Speak

“We started to raise an alarm after a tidal wave has washed into the shores of the coast, rendering many homeless around 3:00 am”

A resident who only gave his name as Felix explains that the current tidal wave destruction was massive, and needs government's urgent action to save lives. "Most children cannot go to school as a result of the situation and I have observed that these residents need food since they've lost all they have"   Mr. Felix stated.

“Those of us who woke up early started to shout to signal others of the happening because this is the only quick way we could help ourselves” Another resident said.

According other residents, even though the community lay above the sea level, persistently the sea level rose and inundated most parts of the community, destroying houses and properties.

The destruction

About fifty (50) households were destroyed by the tidal waves leaving over hundreds of residents to be displaced

Some also described the situation as very bad because getting food to eat will be a problem as well as where to spend the night.

However, residents are yet to quantify their loses in monetary term as many are still counting their loses while the finder continues gathering our information

Displaced residents were forced to savage the little belongings they could lay their hands on and park them onto the major road and started with a spontaneous demonstration immediately.

Even though no casualties were recorded according to the authorities but urgent intervention is needed to aid the affected residents.

Protests and Roadblocks

The assembly member of the area noted that the situation left residents no other alternatives than to protest and block the major road in the town.

“residents with anger started this demonstration immediately because they waited for a long time for this sea defense project. All we keep hearing is that, it is in the budget and monies are not released yet for the project”

 He said, the action of residents to mount the roadblocks was fuel by anger toward the authorities for neglecting the community for the past five years when the area started recording this deadly incident.

“We have been complaining to our Current Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eliot Agbenorwo but all they are telling us is becoming of lies than reality. This happening did not start today, its intensity started over five years. We have made several appeals and letters to government through our MCE but all promises are not fulfilled till today”

He said personnel from the Ghana police service has come in to plead with residents to use other legal means to register their displeasure.

Assembly Member of the area tell their side of the story

Speaking to the Finder Newspaper, Assembly Member of the Amutsinu-Sallakorpe electoral area, Hon. Sylvester Kumawu noted that, he received a call from one of the indigenes in the Sallakorpe community around 3:00AM regarding the disaster

He said, he quickly rushed to the scene and saw how devastating and awful the situation was.

He also noted that, a sea defense project has been awarded by the erstwhile NDC administration to Amandi Company Limited for a sea defense project to be rolled out along the coast but after the first phase which consisted Havedzi-Horvi ended at part of Agavedzi, works were left unattended.

“The second phase supposed to continue from part of Agavedzi to Sallakorpe, Amutsinu, Adina. When they finished the first phase, I was writing letters upon letters to the MCE and he together with the Paramount Chief of Some, Torgbi Adama III wrote a cover letter and forwarded to the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2018. Upon persistent follow up, the information we heard is that it was put into the 2019 budget. This the promise we keep hearing”

“We can relocate when this occurrence started some years ago which some even loss their lives but, relocation must me triggered by someone. We are between the sea and the lagoon so relocation may not be easy when the other side lack many basic social amenities such as portable water etc” He lamented.

He observed that, the situation is very bad and call on higher authorities including the Volta Regional Minister, Ministry of Works and Housing and the Office of the President to come in for residents are not ready to listen to the Municipal Assembly anymore.

He added that, no major demonstrations were organized since the beginning of such incident in the past years so it looks as if authorities do not care about their welfare.

Ketu South NADMO Visit

The Ketu South National Disaster Management Organization quickly responded to the situation by moving in to assess the situation.

The Director of the National Disaster Management Organization for the Ketu South Municipality, Mr. Alorsode Paul shared the plight of the residents and pledged his commitment by giving maximum support to those affected.

Mr. Alorsode indicated that he will ensure that measures are put in place to secure temporal homes for the affected residents prior to other supports to be received from government.

He urged the residents to be at peace and also halt any form of protest in demand for government's intervention since measures are underway to curb the ugly spectacle.