Weta: the Dufia of Dzodze Apeyeme, has expressed deep concern over the worsening coastal erosion in Fuveme in the Anloga District, describing the devastation in the area as heartbreaking and a serious threat to livelihoods and human survival.
According to Ghana News Agency, Torgbui Adzenu said the scale of destruction caused by the advancing sea was alarming and demanded urgent intervention.
He highlighted that the impact of the coastal erosion had escalated beyond environmental degradation, becoming a humanitarian crisis with homes, farmlands, fishing activities, and entire sections of the community already lost to the sea. "It is painful to witness the level of destruction in Fuveme. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods and their security. Entire communities have been washed away, and the people are living in fear and uncertainty," he added.
Torgbui Adzenu was part of a delegation dispatched by Torgbui Sri III, Awormefia of Anlo, to assess the extent of destruction in Fuveme and adjoining coastal communities ahead of a visit by President John Dramani Mahama. The delegation's task was to conduct a first-hand assessment of the impact of recurring tidal waves and coastal erosion on the people and brief the Anlo Traditional Council and government on the urgent needs of affected residents.
The team toured the affected areas, inspected destroyed homes and community infrastructure, and interacted with residents whose lives had been severely disrupted by the persistent sea invasion. Their findings, along with an assessment by the Volta Regional Minister, led to President Mahama's visit to the affected area.
After touring the area and receiving the reports, President Mahama acknowledged the severity of the destruction and assured residents of the government's commitment to protecting the coastal stretch through the implementation of the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) resilience project. Torgbui Adzenu noted that this assurance had renewed hope among residents, many of whom had lived for years under constant threat of displacement and loss.
He emphasized that the proposed intervention under the WACA project was expected to provide long-term protection for vulnerable coastal communities, restore livelihoods, and reduce the devastating impact of tidal waves in the area. He commended President Mahama and the Volta Regional Minister for responding promptly to the concerns raised by traditional authorities and affected residents.
However, Torgbui Adzenu stressed the need for swift implementation of the intervention, stating that the people of Fuveme could no longer afford delays. "The people have suffered enough. What they need now is urgent and lasting action. The sea continues to threaten lives and livelihoods every day, and we must act before more communities are lost," he urged.
He called for sustained collaboration between government, traditional authorities, and development partners to ensure that coastal communities in the Volta Region were protected from the growing threat of erosion and climate-related disasters.