The President, John Dramani Mahama, has toured communities recently affected by tidal waves in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, and presented relief items to them, and promised that the government will do everything possible to prevent further destruction of the tidal waves in the area.
President Mahama presented various items donated by individuals and groups to the victims, which included GH¢100,000, 500 bags of rice, 200 cartons of cooking oil, 100 cartons of soap, 30 cartons of mosquito nets, 300 pieces of blankets, 20 bales of used clothing, 300 pieces of plastic buckets, 100 pieces basins and 500 pieces of plastic plates.
The President’s brother, Mr Ibrahim Mahama donated GH¢100,000, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Govern Kwame Agbodza donated 200 bags of rice, the Volta Region National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament donated GH¢100,000 while the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO)donated 500 bags of rice, 200 cartons of cooking oil, 100 cartons of soap, 30 cartons of mosquito nets, 300 pieces of blankets, 20 bales of used clothing, 300 pieces of plastic buckets, 100 pieces of basins and 500 pieces of plastic plates.
Addressing a durbar after the inspection of the affected communities at Agavedzi in the Ketu South Municipality, Mr Mahama assured the victims and people of the area of the government’s willingness to address the problem of tidal waves and its effects on the lives of the people.
Mr Mahama said the government did not forget about the people and would do everything possible to ensure that the issue of tidal waves would become a thing of the past, and stressed that the government would as a matter of importance bring life to normal for the affected victims.
He expressed dissatisfaction about work on the resettlement project at Sarakope for tidal wave victims, which was being financed by Ghana Gas Company Limited , and described work done so far as shoddy, stressing that the area where the project was could be flooded as it was a lowland.
The President said phase two of the sea defence wall would start soon and directed the Minister of Finance to allocate funding for the project, and at the same time efforts would be made to resettle those whose houses were affected and look for a more suitable site for the resettlement project for the victims.
The recent tidal waves affected 51 households, displaced 300 people, and washed away 80 metres of the coastline at Agavedzi, Blekusu, Adina, Amutinu and Sarakope.
The President was accompanied by the Volta Regional Minister, Mr James Gunu, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Foreign Minister, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, AGAVEDZI
