{{Short description|Sea defence wall in Ghana}} The '''Keta Sea Defence Wall''' in Ghana was done to defend the coastline from Keta to Hlorve. The defence was constructed to prevent chronic and occasional erosion along the coast and flooding.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Otchere|first=Gertrude Owireduwaah|date=2021-06-22|title=Govt to construct sea defence wall at Ketu South [Video]|url=https://www.adomonline.com/govt-to-construct-sea-defence-wall-at-ketu-south-video/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Adomonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Also to reclaim land from the Keta Lagoon to widen human settlements and also to build a way linking settlements from Keta to Hlorve.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Keta Sea Defense|url=https://www.gldd.com/project/keta-sea-defense/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Great Lakes Dredge and Dock|language=en-US}}</ref> A World Bank analysis from 2010 presents a bleak picture for the remainder of Ghana.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-05-11|title=Ghana's coastal erosion: The village buried in sand|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36257360|access-date=2022-01-17}}</ref>
== Construction == The construction of the 41-million Euro sea defence began in October 2010 and was projected to be completed by December 2011 but was completed in October 2014.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-12-24|title=Who built the Keta Sea Defence wall? NAPO’s false, misleading claims|url=https://thefourthestategh.com/2021/12/24/keta-sea-defence/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Fourth Estate|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title=Keta sea defence project to be expanded|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/keta-sea-defence-project-to-be-expanded.html|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=2022-01-17|newspaper=Daily Graphic|language=en-gb}}</ref> The quantity of the dredge was estimated at 15 million cubic meters and the vessel type used was the Cutter Suction Dredge.<ref name=":0"/>
The first phase for the construction of the defense also known as the ''Blekuso Project'' started in 2015 and was completed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Quaye|first=Samuel|title=Parliament calls for urgent assistance to tidal waves victims|url=https://www.gna.org.gh/1.21253608|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.gna.org.gh|language=en|archive-date=2022-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182656/https://www.gna.org.gh/1.21253608|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The second phase for the construction of the defense was expected to cover about 8 km minimum along the coastal stretch.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-11-10|title=Two Ministries working to solve Keta sea defence puzzle|url=https://www.thepublisheronline.com/two-ministries-working-solve-keta-sea-defence-puzzle/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Publisher Online|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Afful|first=Henrietta|date=2021-11-11|title=Fix Keta Sea Defence Once And For All! - GBC Ghana Online - The Nation's Broadcaster {{!}} Breaking News from Ghana, Business, Sports, Entertainment, Fashion and Video News|url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/commentary/fix-keta-sea-defence-once-and-for-all/2021/|access-date=2022-01-17|language=en-US}}</ref>
The amount set for the project was $100-million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keta Sea Defense Project, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock {{!}} Baird|url=https://www.baird.com/case-studies/keta-sea-defense-project-great-lakes-dredge-and-dock/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.baird.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Tidal waves == In June 2015, about 56 houses in the towns of Dzita and Fuveme in the Keta Municipality were destroyed by tidal waves leaving 627 people homeless. Also in June 2016, tidal waves destroyed the towns of Agbledomi, Fuveme, Whuti, Srogboe, Dzita, and Kporkporgbor leaving hundreds of people homeless and destroying farmlands and properties.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-13|title=History, causes and government interventions of tidal waves in Keta [Article]|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2021/11/history-causes-and-government-interventions-of-tidal-waves-in-keta-article/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}</ref>
On 7 November 2021, tidal waves swept through human settlements in the Keta Municipality and Ketu Municipality displacing about 3,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Completion of Keta sea defence project not lasting solution to perennial destructive tidal waves – Prof. Appeaning Addo - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/completion-of-keta-sea-defence-project-not-lasting-solution-to-perennial-destructive-tidal-waves-prof-appeaning-addo/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-12|title=Why have successive governments abandoned sea defence projects? – Analysts ask|url=https://theindependentghana.com/2021/11/why-have-successive-governments-abandoned-sea-defence-projects-analysts-ask/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Independent Ghana|language=en-GB|archive-date=2022-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117231200/https://theindependentghana.com/2021/11/why-have-successive-governments-abandoned-sea-defence-projects-analysts-ask/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Affected communities were Kedzikope, Abutiakope, Dzelukope, Dzita, Anloga, Agbledomi, Atiteti, Agokedzi, Serakope Fuveme and Keta Central. The waves destroyed fishing equipment, farm animals and many households.<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":4"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-10|title=Ketu South MP to government: Resume work on Keta sea defence project now|url=https://asaaseradio.com/ketu-south-mp-to-government-resume-work-on-keta-sea-defence-project-now/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Asaase Radio|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Government intervention === The Government of Ghana allocated about 10million Ghana cedis for the communities affected by the tidal waves.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-06|title=Government to provide GH¢10 million for Keta Sea defense – Ofori-Atta|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Government-to-provide-GH-10-million-for-Keta-Sea-defense-Ofori-Atta-1417510|access-date=2022-01-17|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}}</ref>
==== Appeal ==== Togbi Edido II, the Chief of Xorvi pleaded with the government to solve the issues on the waves and also appealed to the government to make sure the Keta lagoon is dredged to reclaim lands lost for development in the communities.<ref name=":2"/>
Torgbi Adamah III, the paramount chief of Some Traditional Area also pleaded with the government to begin the second of the project to reduce the damage caused by the sea on settlements along the shore.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-14|title=Ghana: Some Paramount Chief Appeals for Continuation of Keta Sea Defence Project|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202106140315.html|access-date=2022-01-17|website=allAfrica.com|language=en}}</ref>
== Controversies == In December 2021, Mathew Opoku Prempeh in a video that went viral on social media was alleged to have said he would lead a demonstration in Kumasi if Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance accepts the request of the Minority in Parliament concerning the sea defence project.<ref>{{Cite web|last=MyNewsGH|date=2021-12-05|title=Blame yourselves for NAPO’s outburst – Dela Coffie to NDC on Keta Sea Defence|url=https://www.mynewsgh.com/blame-yourselves-for-napos-outburst-dela-coffie-to-ndc-on-keta-sea-defence/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=MyNewsGh|language=en-US}}</ref> The public condemned him as being 'insensitive' to the plight of the Keta people.<ref name=":1"/> He later claimed he supports the project 100% and disputed claims his comments was not based on ethnic bias.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-12-10|title="Ignore NDC Lies, I support the Keta Sea Defence Project 100% "- NAPO|url=https://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/ignore-ndc-lies-i-support-the-keta-sea-defence-project-100-napo/|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=2022-01-17|newspaper=Ghanaian Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Finder Online - I support Keta Sea Defence but against NDC’s political hostage-taking - NAPO|url=https://www.thefinderonline.com/news/item/22843-i-support-keta-sea-defence-but-against-ndc-s-political-hostage-taking-napo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214175330/https://www.thefinderonline.com/news/item/22843-i-support-keta-sea-defence-but-against-ndc-s-political-hostage-taking-napo|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 14, 2021|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.thefinderonline.com|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ignore NDC lies - Napo refutes claims he's not in support of Keta Sea Defence Wall project|url=https://ghanaguardian.com/ignore-ndc-lies-napo-refutes-claims-hes-not-in-support-of-keta-sea-defence-wall-project|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Ghana Guardian News|language=en}}</ref>
John Agyekum Kuffour blamed the NDC of wasting funds meant for the sea defence project whiles John Mahama also blamed the NPP for sidelining the Volta region in terms of infrastructural projects.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-09|title=Kufuor’s claims over Keta Sea Defence project ‘false’ – Ahi|url=https://ghanapoliticsonline.com/kufuors-claims-keta-sea-defence-project-false-ahi/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=GhanaPoliticsOnline.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-07|title=NDC squandered Keta Sea Defence project money – Kufuor|url=https://citifmonline.com/2016/04/ndc-squandered-keta-sea-defence-project-money-kufuor/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always|language=en-US}}</ref>
In the 2022 budget read by Ken Ofori-Atta, the sea defence project was not captured and Francis Asenso Boakye claimed he was disappointed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keta sea defence not captured in 2022 budget disappointing - Works and Housing Minister - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/keta-sea-defence-not-captured-in-2022-budget-disappointing-works-and-housing-minister/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Government of Ghana Category:Volta Region