Tidal waves destroy Fuveme, Kporkporgbor communities

Accra, Dec. 10, GNA - Tidal sea waves have destroyed the Fuveme and Kporkporgbor Communities in the Keta Municipality in the Volta Region, driving residents to relocate for safety.

'The Kporkporgbo community is no more on the face of the earth' and has been completely lost to the sea, making the Anlo constituency lose one of its polling stations out of its 85.

The adjoining Fuveme community is also under siege by high tidal sea waves which have destroyed more than half of the community, alongside property and livestock.

Mr Clement Kofi Humado, MP for Anlo Constituency of the Keta Municipality is on his knees, calling on government agencies; National Disaster Management Organisation, the Town and Country Planning Department, International agencies such as the UNHCR and World Food Programme to come to the aid of the Fuveme community.

He told Parliament: 'We need items such as tents, prefabricated dwelling houses, household utilities and conveniences.

'The Municipal Assembly is prepared to offer any local assistance that will facilitate the work of these agencies in the resettlement of the people of Fuveme and in the rebuilding of their community'.

In a statement on the floor of the House, Mr Humado drew the attention of the government, the people of Ghana and international agencies to the serious plight of the people of Fuveme and Kporkporgbo, as a result of the incessant erosion by high tidal sea waves.

The Kporkporgbo and Fuveme communities used to be adjoining fishing communities within the Atiteti electoral area of the Anlo Constituency.

They share the lower Volta estuary with the Ada township in the Ada West District.

According to Mr Humado, the 2000 Population and Housing Census of Ghana, published in 2005, indicated that the two communities had a population of 613 persons with 175 households.

The people are mainly fishermen while the women undertake fish processing and trade in fish products.

The damage has disrupted the education of more than 100 children, and despite initial reluctance, the people of Fuveme have now agreed to move to higher grounds nearby and to rebuild their settlement.

'This intended relocation is an emergency that will require the assistance of the Government and international agencies…. We need to move very fast in order to save lives and property in the Fuveme community,' Mr Humado said.

He called on the Government to plan and stabilise the shoreline of the Volta estuary, saying 'I therefore urge Government to look at the development of the Volta estuary into a natural harbour to increase cargo handling of ships that dock in Ghana.

'This will increase trade in the outside world as well as create an economic hub for Ghana and generate jobs for the people of the area.'

Mr Humado appealed to the Government to recall the Volta River Authority dredger that used to operate regularly in the estuary to ensure free flow of the river into the sea, as well as pumping sand to shore up the remaining settlements in the area.

GNA