Sand winning along shoreline must cease – Minister

Mr Henry Ford Kamel Volta Regional Minister has suggested the “absolute enforcement” of bye-laws banning sand winning along the country’s shoreline to lessen the effects of high tidal waves.

He made the call on Monday during a visit to communities affected by the recent tidal waves, which destroyed houses and property in the Keta and Ketu-South municipal areas.

Mr Kamel said though building a defense wall along the entire coastline in the areas appeared to be the permanent solution; it would take some time to implement because of the high cost involved.

He said putting a stop to sand winning; including molding of building blocks on the beaches remains the short term solution to the problem.

“Coastal communities need to be engaged to put a stop to sand winning of any form to minimize the human suffering when the sea strikes,” Mr Kamel stated.

Dzita, Srogboe and Kedzi-Horvi in the Keta area and Blekusu in Ketu-South were the communities affected when the waves bashed the shores on Friday, ebbing after three days.

About 70 houses were destroyed and over 400 people displaced.

Stockpiles of smoked and dried fish were lost and large tracts of vegetable farms submerged.

Mr Kamel, who empathized with the affected persons, assured them that relief items were being mobilized to abate their suffering.

Mr Kofi Humado, MP for the area and Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Richard Quashigah, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Propaganda Secretary, Mr Sylvester Tornyeava, Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Municipal National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) officials accompanied the Minister.

Source: GNA