Residents of Fuveme in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have been rendered homeless on Monday evening when strong tidal waves hit their coastline.
Many homes in Fuveme and its surroundings have been destroyed by the tidal waves; causing extensive damage to property and displacing several hundreds of residents, particularly women and children living along the coastline.
The area, which lies around an estuary where the River Volta enters the sea, has been experiencing the havoc over the years. A year ago, other communities along the Keta coastline including Blekusu, Horve, Havedzi, Dzita, Whuti, Srogboe and Anyanui suffered similar fate leading to over 300 houses being submerged and the destruction of several properties.
The displaced persons had no choice than to go and live with relatives. Fortunately, school is on vacation so teaching and learning is not affected.
During last year’s disaster, at least, 1500 residents were displaced in the Keta and Ketu South district alone.
When contacted, the Volta Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Divine Bosson said he and his team had toured the affected areas to assess the extent of damage and had provided some relief items to the victims.
Every year during the rainy season, residents along the coastline in the Southern Volta, particularly Keta and parts of Ketu South suffer from tidal waves. But for the construction of the Sea defense in the area, many more communities and properties would have been destroyed.
The Awomefia of the Anlo State, Torgbui Sri III, has on several occasions reminded government to complete the sea defense project to save the people from the perennial tidal wave disasters.
From Fred Duodu, (k.duodu@yahoo.com)