VR Minister Declares “State of Emergency” as Tidal Waves Ravage Coastal Communities

Following recent tidal waves that swept through coastal communities in Southern Volta, causing tremendous devastation to livelihoods, the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu has declared “a state of emergency,” in a bid to Marshall all forces to find a lasting solution to the perennial occurrence.

The sea, driven by high tides, continues to wash away communities along the coast of the Ketu South Municipality within the last 7 days.

Gunu described this occurrence as a threat to national security and called for emergency interventions to curb the destruction and ensure the safety and well-being of residents of the affected communities.

He made the declaration at a brief meeting between members of the Volta Regional Security Council and officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) at Tokor in the Ketu South Municipality.

“I have actually made it a national security issue, houses have been washed away, cemeteries are gone and a lot of things and the psychological trauma that the people are going through including children and women calls for urgent action,” he stressed.

According to the Minister, an assessment revealed that communities in the affected areas are far below sea level and could be easily submerged during recurring high tides, hence some urgency must be attached to an immediate intervention.

“If nothing is done urgently and we allow the sea to cross the road continuously, the degree of devastation that we will see cannot be contained,” he warned.

Presenting some relief items to the victims,  Gunu stressed that the government attaches prominence to curbing the destruction of the sea.

The relief items were presented to over 510 victims affected by the recent disaster in the enclave. However, the residents appealed for the completion of the sea defence project, to protect their communities, instead of providing insufficient quantities of food each time.

“We don’t need rice or maize. All we need is for them to complete the sea defence so we can be safe and take care of ourselves,” said Makafui Atayi, a victim.

A Ghana Gas shelter project where about 15 units of 2-bedroom apartments are to be constructed has stalled, prompting calls for its early completion to help in a proposed evacuation exercise.