Ellembelle: A group of Assembly Members along the coastal belt of the Ellembelle District in the Western Region has appealed to Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, to intervene in addressing the re-emergence of sargassum seaweeds along the Western coast, particularly in the Ellembelle District.
According to Ghana News Agency, the group has proposed the revival of Zoil and Eco-brigade initiatives to clear the sargassum seaweeds and improve sanitation along the shores. This call was made in a statement jointly issued by Mr. Shaibu Issaka, former Presiding Member of the Ellembelle District Assembly, and other Assembly Members, addressed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ellembelle District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Joseph Armah Agyekum, and copied to the Ghana News Agency at Kamgbunli.
Sargassum seaweeds have posed a significant environmental challenge in Ghana's marine waters for some time, disrupting fishing activities. The statement highlighted the detrimental impact of the seaweeds, stating, "The current spurt in seaweeds growth along our coast has devastated the livelihoods of our fishermen and fishmongers, leading to increased youth unemployment and, regrettably, a rise in illegal activities."
The seaweeds have been reported to entangle fishing nets, reduce fish catch, and make it difficult for affected communities to sustain their livelihoods, with many families struggling to meet basic needs. The statement further noted that the outbreak has driven youth in the area towards illegal activities, including small-scale mining (galamsey) and okada riding, which have resulted in the loss of lives among young people in Nzema.
The Assembly Members urged Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, to take action against the re-emergence of the sargassum seaweeds. They called for the provision of alternative livelihood support for affected fishermen, the implementation of community-led conservation initiatives, and the donation of foodstuffs to the impacted communities.
The statement emphasized that Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah could leverage his Ministry to significantly restore the livelihoods of the people and promote sustainable development in Nzemaland, a legacy attributed to his tenure as the former Minister of Energy and Petroleum.