Ketu South Tidal Waves Incident Under Control - MCE Assures Ghanaians

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region, Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, has stressed the urgent need to halt politicising the incident of the tidal waves which have currently rocked hundreds of residents in the Ketu South coastal communities, stressing that his outfit has taken an absolute control about the management of the impact of the disaster.

The MCE who was very sad about the loss of properties of the residents in the affected coastal communities expressed unhappiness about the continuous habit of some self-seeking individuals to go round with false news misinforming the general public with the untrue reality on the grounds being associated with the tidal waves.

Mincing no words, Mr Agbenorwu flatly denied allegations of closure of some schools in the Ketu South coastal communities because of the current tidal waves and called on the general public, particularly the people in the Volta Region to disregard the allegation and treat it as contempt it deserves.

The MCE further debunked media reports in circulation that his outfit was not able to impress upon the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to come to the aid of the residents in coastal communities affected by the tidal waves since the disaster occurred.

According to Mr Agbenorw, the Ketu South Municipal Assembly has done what it could in the interim, including the extension of water and other things to the areas as an immediate solution for the affected people.

"We have also relocated some affected residents to the very suitable places who are living good and peaceful in their places because we care all lives of people in the communities," the MCE disclosed.

He, however, appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, start with phase two of the sea defence wall project to help the people have some peace of mind. 

Mr Agbenorw made the foregoing statement when the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, NADMO and Member of Parliament (MP) for the area Dzifa Abla Gomashie, donated two trucks full of relief items to coastal communities affected by tidal waves in Ketu South Municipality. 

The relief items include 50 bags of soap, 200 mattresses, 200 plastic bowls, 100 bags of 25kg rice, 15 boxes of used clothing, 50 packs of mosquito coil, 500 plastic plates, 300 pieces of cooking oil, 300 pieces of blankets, plastic baskets and cash amount of ¢20,000.

The MCE noted that the relief items by the NADMO, he believes is enough for the meantime adding that the government was gracious to them when the project was stalled in 2016 yet it quickly resumed work in 2017 and was completed.

He said the government is not obvious of the need for the extension and the plight of the people. 

“This is an appeal to the government to come to the aid of the people and it should not be a political banter or a tug of war,” Edem said. 

For his part, the Director-General of NADMO, Nana Agyemang Prempeh debunked news in circulation that the government was not able to come to the aid of the people since the disaster occurred.

He said NADMO relief items are not the first point of call anytime disaster strikes, but rather a search and rescue mission was conducted first, then assessment by the relevant authorities, followed by the distribution of relief items. 

Mr Prempeh noted there is an urgent need for the extension of the sea defence project as a long term remedy to save the people from further problems associated with the tidal waves adding that the second phase of the project will start from the Aflao border.

“What I have seen now is not good enough, and I think there is the need to extend the sea defence wall project to help the people, “Mr Agyemang Prempeh said. 

He assured the residents of the government’s commitment to making sure that issues of tidal waves are permanently solved soon to enable residents to have peace of mind and go about their normal activities.

The NADMO boss noted that the relief items were meant to solve the immediate problems for the residents' whiles the government solves the issues on the grounds as soon as possible.

The MP for the area, Mrs Dzifa Abla Gomashie, was thankful to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo's administration for the swift response with the relief items and noted that the residents would love to be relocated in the long term and have the extension of the sea defence wall project done.

Mrs Gomashie noted that the people will continue to look forward to continuous support from the government as the sea ravages and destroyed properties and lives.

“We are grateful for the relief items but we want to be able to fend for ourselves, do things for ourselves and so we plead that you empower us to be able to fish instead of depending on the government to give us fish,” Dzifa said.

Assemblyman for the area, Mr Amutsinu Sylvester Kumawu, pleaded for an extension of the sea defence wall project.

Hundreds of residents in the Ketu South coastal communities were displaced by the tidal waves, which have been a major problem for residents.

Several homes were submerged into the sea, with hundreds of cedis destroyed, while most residents are currently homeless.

The Director-General was accompanied by the Volta Regional Director of NADMO, Divine R. K. Bosson, Pascal Agbagba from the regional office and the Ketu South Municipal Director.