President John Dramani Mahama has visited the coastal community of Fuveme in the Volta Region to assess the devastating impact of recent tidal waves and engage directly with affected residents.
During the visit, the President expressed concern over the recurring destruction caused by coastal erosion and rising sea levels, emphasizing the need for both immediate intervention and sustainable long-term solutions. He highlighted that Fuveme is among the beneficiary communities under the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA), a $150 million initiative supported by the World Bank. The program is designed to tackle coastal degradation and protect vulnerable settlements along West Africa’s shoreline.
According to the President, the project is currently at the design stage but is expected to transition into full implementation soon. Planned measures include the construction of sea defence systems and groynes to control wave action, alongside ecosystem restoration efforts such as coconut tree planting and mangrove rehabilitation to strengthen natural coastal barriers.
In the meantime, government is exploring urgent stopgap measures to ease the immediate burden on residents. Among these is the proposed dredging of the estuary to reduce water pressure and minimize further destruction.
The visit underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding coastal communities like Fuveme, as authorities work to combine engineering solutions with environmental restoration to build resilience against future tidal wave threats.
