The minister on the tour
The Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the indiscriminate dumping of waste into the sea, particularly in coastal communities where government sea defence projects are underway.
According to the Minister, the practice poses a serious threat to the environment, marine life, human health, and the sustainability of ongoing coastal protection works.
He described the situation as alarming, citing pollution hotspots where plastic waste, industrial effluents, and other hazardous materials are recklessly discharged into the sea.
“The filth being dumped into the sea has a negative impact on the people and also affects the progress of the project. Communities must do everything possible to stop disposing of refuse into the sea.
“The waste eventually comes back to harm them, and when that happens, they still look to government to clean it up. While government is doing its best to support these communities, residents must also take responsibility and help protect their environment,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Adjei made these remarks during a working visit to inspect the progress of sea defence projects in the Central Region.
The projects are aimed at protecting coastal communities from erosion and tidal waves while safeguarding critical infrastructure and livelihoods.
The Minister inspected ongoing works at Anomabo, Cape Coast, and Elmina.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by contractors and encouraged them to expedite construction to provide timely relief to affected communities.
The projects involve the construction of breakwaters, sea walls, and drainage systems designed to mitigate coastal erosion and flooding.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting coastal communities, noting that efforts are being made to ensure the timely release of funds for completion of the works.
“These projects started in 2024, and the government is committed to respecting the contract so that they will be completed at the stipulated time.
So far, I am satisfied with the work done and call on communities to adhere to environmental regulations by stopping the dumping of refuse into the sea,” he added.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Dr. Sylvester Darko, raised concerns about illegal sand winning near project sites. He warned that the activity threatens the integrity of the sea defence structures.
“There are individuals who arrive with trucks to extract sand along the construction zones, and this is negatively affecting the projects,” Dr. Darko cautioned, calling for urgent intervention.
He urged coastal residents to support environmental protection efforts to ensure the long-term success of the sea defence initiatives.
From Kweku Afriyie, Central Region