Residents of Gbegbeyise and Shiabu, coastal communities in the Ablekuma West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, can now heave a sigh of relief as construction of a five-kilometre sea defense wall has officially commenced.The long-awaited project, which was initiated after several years of distress due to flooding and tidal wave damage, promises to bring much-needed protection to the area's vulnerable residents.The announcement of the project comes just days after a passionate appeal from Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, to the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Finance.Her call for urgent intervention was sparked by the increasing frequency of flooding and the persistent destruction caused by rising tides along the coastline.In her appeal which was published by several media houses, Owusu-Ekuful warned that, without swift action, the risks to human life and local infrastructure would continue to escalate, with even greater consequences for the local economy.A Desperate Call for HelpThe destruction caused by these natural disasters has not only been physical but emotional as well.
Many families have lost their homes, and businesses that once flourished along the coastline are now in jeopardy.The residents of Dansoman have lived with the anxiety of possible displacement for years, watching as the sea slowly encroaches on their livelihoods.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful's plea to the central government was not only a political request but also a heartfelt cry from a community on the edge, desperate for a solution.During a media briefing, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, along with the Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, provided further details on the project.The sea defense wall, which is expected to stretch for five kilometers along the coast, will be completed within 36 months.
However, the Minister emphasized that the government is committed to fast-tracking the work to mitigate further damage."We understand the urgency of this project.
