Ada sea project to be completed Oct
The second phase of the Ada sea defence project being executed at the cost of 165million euros is scheduled for completion in October this year, contractors of the project, International Dredging Marine and Consultant (IDMC), have said.
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According to the Project Manager, Mr Andre Olivier, 80 per cent of the work has been completed.
He made this known when the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, inspected the progress of work at Ada last Tuesday.
Under the second phase, about 15 kilometres of the coastline, which was being washed away by tidal waves, has been recovered, while 22 groynes have been constructed.
Groynes are rigid walls built out into the sea from the beach to check erosion and drifting.
The first phase of the projects which involved the construction of 15 groynes and other works, were completed in 2014 at the cost of $60 million.
Rationale
It is estimated that Accra, Ada and other costal settlements risk being immersed by the ocean because of rising tides caused by climate change.
The Ada coastline was said to be disappearing at a rate of between 6-8 metres a year, which created a serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of the inhabitants.
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Many people living along the coastline were forced to evacuate their homes to safer places as the marauding sea waves approached.
The main road in front of the Ada East District Assembly offices was gradually being washed away.
But for the sea protection project, the main offices would have been brought down in ruins by the sea.
It was to save the situation from further deterioration and bring relief to the people that the government sought funds to undertake the project.
“We have so far been able to protect and reclaim 15 kilometres of the land and have also constructed 22 groynes, so we are hopeful that it would be completed by October this year,” Mr Olivier said.
He said there were about 300 workers on the project, majority of whom were locals of Ada, and with the speed and enthusiasm of the workers, the project would be completed on time.
Mr Olivier added,however, that even though there had been a suggestion to expand the contract, there had not been any official discussion on that.
Minister
Commenting on the project, Dr Mensah stated; “when the project is totally complete, the people of Ada would no longer have to worry about their homes and properties being swept away by tidal waves from the sea.