The Anlo Youth Council (AYC) has applauded President John Dramani Mahama for initiating Phase II of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project but has issued a strong appeal for urgent intervention along the remaining unprotected coastal belt from Dzita through Fuveme to Wuti.
In a statement signed by the Council’s Vice President of Operations, Godsway Hanyabui, the AYC described the Blekusu project as a “beacon of hope” for communities battered by coastal erosion for decades. However, the group warned that without immediate action on other vulnerable areas, the country risks compounding an already dire humanitarian and environmental crisis.
A Legacy of Coastal Protection
The AYC commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its longstanding track record in safeguarding coastal communities in the Volta Region. It referenced the Keta Sea Defence Wall constructed under former President Jerry John Rawlings and the Anyanui–Akplowotorkor project spearheaded by the late President John Evans Atta Mills as pivotal interventions.
“This timely intervention represents hope for communities that have long lived in the shadow of destruction,” the Council said. “We deeply appreciate the President’s responsiveness to the urgent plight of our coastal settlements.”
Unprotected Zones Still at Risk
Despite welcoming the new Blekusu phase, the AYC raised alarm over what it described as “a dangerously exposed corridor” between Dzita, Fuveme, and Wuti communities that remain at the mercy of the advancing sea.
The group accused the previous government of neglecting these areas for nearly a decade, allowing several settlements to disappear under water due to inaction and misplaced priorities.
“No new investment was made for over eight years. While our homes were washed away, resources were redirected to comparatively safer coastal stretches elsewhere,” the statement noted.
The AYC cautioned that failure to address the Dzita–Fuveme–Wuti stretch could lead to “flanking”—a phenomenon where unprotected sections of the coast undermine newly constructed sea defences, rendering them ineffective.
“The risk is real. If this unprotected corridor is left unattended, it could compromise the integrity of the newly constructed sea defences and endanger more lives and livelihoods,” the statement warned.
Call for a Holistic Coastal Strategy
The Council urged the government to go beyond piecemeal interventions and adopt a comprehensive, science-driven approach to coastal protection. It recommended linking the Blekusu defences with a new Dzita–Fuveme–Wuti system and exploring land reclamation as part of a sustainable solution.
“This is a call for a strategic shift, one that views coastal protection not as isolated political projects, but as a unified national commitment,” the AYC emphasised. “Let this be the moment where the state reconnects with its coastal citizens, not just with stones, but with lasting vision and partnership.”
A Warning for the Future
The Anlo Youth Council concluded its statement with a cautionary note, urging the government to act swiftly and decisively.
“Let history not record another community lost when it could have been saved,” the Council said.
For residents of Ghana’s eastern coastline, the Blekusu project is a welcome milestone, but without urgent action on the remaining vulnerable stretches, the risk of further devastation remains dangerously high.
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