The Deputy National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Seji Saji has called for urgent national action to address the severe coastal erosion affecting the Keta coastline in the Volta Region.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, Mr Saji highlighted that the issue extends far beyond the mandate of NADMO and requires a comprehensive national response.
Mr Saji emphasised that the alarming erosion at Keta, where the coastline is swiftly disappearing, is a national crisis that requires urgent attention from all Ghanaians, not just NADMO.
He highlighted that this issue has been ongoing for many years, intensifying into a critical challenge that the government and the citizens must tackle together.
“The bigger problem is beyond NADMO, a problem that the country would have to confront in relation to the protection of the whole coastline.
According to Mr Saji, the erosion problem has been ongoing for decades, and while efforts have been made to mitigate the damage, they have been insufficient.
“This problem existed long before I was born, and despite various attempts to secure our coastline, the issue persists,” he noted.
NADMO’s role, Mr Saji explained, is to facilitate discussions among all relevant stakeholders and develop a disaster management plan that includes contingency measures for potential displacement and other humanitarian challenges.
However, he stressed that solving the root causes of coastal erosion requires more than disaster management.
“There have been efforts to build sea defences over the years, but these defences do not cover the entire coastline. In areas where the defences end, the erosion is severe. If you visit those areas even a month apart, you will be shocked by how much land has been lost to the sea,” he said.
Mr Saji also referenced a study by the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, which predicts that within the next 40 to 50 years, Ghana could lose significant portions of its coastline if no action is taken. “Every structure along the coast is at risk, and this is a national issue that demands urgent attention,” he warned.
He commended the media for bringing attention to this critical issue following Joy News’ ‘Vanishing Shores’ documentary and urged that the findings of the Geological Survey be used as a basis for national action. “It’s now up to us, as a country, to make the necessary decisions to protect our coastline before it’s too late,” he concluded.
Source: Mavis Sekyibea Addo