We are reclaiming our coast to protect lives and livelihoods in Ketu South — Works and Housing Minister on Blekusu sea defence project

Construction has commenced on the second phase of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project to safeguard the towns of Salakope, Agavedzi and Amutsinu in the Ketu South Municipality from tidal waves and coastal erosion.

A sod-cutting ceremony was held at Blekusu on Saturday, 20th July 2025, where President John Dramani Mahama formally launched the project.

The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mr Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, outlined the scope of the four-year intervention.

Mr Adjei stated that the second phase aimed to provide long-term protection for the eastern Volta coastline, which continues to suffer damage from tidal waves despite earlier interventions.

“Beyond just preventing destruction, this project is about restoring dignity, reviving livelihoods, and keeping families safe in their homes,” he said.

The project, expected to be completed between 2025 and 2029, will be executed by Amandi Holdings Limited and supervised by the Ghana Hydrological Authority. It will include erosion control structures, dune restoration, and shoreline stabilisation along targeted sections of the coast.

Mr Adjei also announced that the project would feature the construction of a fish market, cold storage facilities, fish processing areas, a lorry park, public toilets, and a solid waste disposal system.

“These facilities will help promote economic growth, sanitation, and social protection within the beneficiary communities,” he noted.

He added that the coastal defence initiative formed part of a broader national response to climate change and disaster risk in vulnerable areas, particularly along Ghana’s coast.

“We must work together to reclaim our coast and secure a safer future for the next generation,” Mr Adjei said.