Dansoman Beach Road residents plead for sea defence completion

Residents along Beach Road at Dansoman in the Ablekuma West Municipality in Accra have called on the government to extend the sea defence project to the area, as coastal erosion and tidal waves continue to destroy property along that coast. 

The community has faced unrelenting destruction of property and homes, with some losing everything they had worked for over the years.

According to some residents, the situation was caused by the partial completion of a sea defence project at the neighbouring Glefe community before the close of 2016.

Causes

The residents alleged that the incomplete project had directed the force of the waves to their area, worsening the erosion.

“When there was no sea defence at Glefe, the sea wasn’t this aggressive here.

But now, the defence built there has directed the water, putting more pressure on us,” Hasiaye Neequaye, a resident who lost her home to the erosion, said.

“I had just built my house on my father’s land when the sea defence work began, and my building was destroyed. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.

Challenges

However, the impact of the erosion extends beyond property damage.

High winds and salty air have led to accelerated rusting of household items, creating additional challenges for residents.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, another resident, Daniel Lamptey, revealed a site where there used to be 12 buildings where the waves had now taken over.

He emphasised that they had spent millions of cedis constructing concrete stones to block the advancing sea, but their efforts had proven futile so far.

"After building the concrete stones, we still couldn't survive.

The sea broke all our buildings, and the concrete stones cost us millions of cedis," he said.

Mr Lamptey also emphasised that in desperation, the community had begun dumping refuse along the shoreline to shield their homes from further encroachment.

“We are not dumping rubbish out of neglect, but to protect ourselves. Once the sea defence is completed, we will stop dumping,” he said.

Call for action

The residents consequently appealed to the government to resume and extend the sea defence project to cover their stretch of the coastline, which they believed would provide long-term protection against erosion.

They emphasised that without intervention, the sea’s relentless advancement would leave their community uninhabitable.  

“The sea is nature, and we can’t fight it alone.

This is natural and we need the government’s help before it’s too late. If nothing is done, a time will come when there will be nothing left to save,” Mr Lamptey said.