President John Dramani Mahama has visited Fuveme in the Volta Region to assess the impact of recent tidal waves and engage affected residents on urgent relief and long-term solutions to coastal erosion.
The visit brought renewed attention to the vulnerability of coastal communities in the Ketu South area, where homes and livelihoods have been repeatedly threatened by advancing sea levels and wave activity.
Addressing residents, the President disclosed that Fuveme is among the beneficiary communities under the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA), a World Bank-supported initiative valued at $150 million. The programme is designed to tackle coastal degradation, flooding, and erosion across several West African countries, including Ghana.
He explained that the project is currently at the design stage but assured the community that implementation will commence soon. Planned interventions include the construction of sea defence systems and groynes to stabilize the shoreline and protect infrastructure.
In addition to engineered solutions, the project will incorporate nature-based approaches such as mangrove restoration and coconut tree planting to strengthen coastal resilience and restore degraded ecosystems.
While awaiting the full rollout of the WACA interventions, President Mahama noted that government is considering short-term measures to provide relief and limit further destruction. Among the options being explored is the dredging of the estuary to ease water pressure and reduce the intensity of tidal wave impacts.
Residents used the opportunity to express concern over recurring losses and called for swift action to safeguard lives, homes, and economic activities in the area.
The visit underscores government’s commitment to addressing the persistent coastal challenges facing communities along Ghana’s eastern shoreline, as authorities work to combine immediate relief efforts with sustainable, long-term protection strategies.