“The Sea Works At Night” project brings hope to tidal wave victims in Volta Region

A tidal wave is a massive and powerful sea wave capable of travelling over long distances and causing severe flooding and destruction when it reaches land.

Often triggered by disturbances such as earthquakes or strong ocean winds, tidal waves have become a recurring nightmare for several coastal communities in Ghana’s Volta Region.

Since 2015, communities including Salakope, Agavedzi, and Amutinu have endured the devastating effects of tidal waves that have swept away homes, businesses, personal belongings, and important documents, leaving many families displaced and struggling to rebuild their lives.

For residents whose livelihoods depended heavily on fishing and fish processing, the impact has been especially severe. Fishing businesses that once sustained families have either collapsed or disappeared beneath the sea.

One of the affected residents, Setor Juliet from Amutinu, a single mother caring for two children and two orphans, described the destruction caused by the waves as life changing.

“The tidal wave is a terrible thing. It has really cost us a lot. Businesses have collapsed,” she said.

In response to the growing hardship in the affected communities, Friends of Adaklu, a non governmental organisation based in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region, in partnership with Tentonic Movement, has launched “The Sea Works At Night” project.

The initiative seeks to support 50 caregiver households whose sources of income have been disrupted by the tidal waves.

The project is designed to help beneficiaries return to familiar economic activities such as fish mongering and salt mining while restoring financial stability and independence. It also aims to equip participants with basic record keeping skills to help them manage and grow their businesses.

Speaking in an interview, Project Manager Roberta Donkor explained that the initiative is funded by SEZ Germany through Tentonic Movement, an art based organisation registered in both Germany and Ghana.

According to her, the project places significant emphasis on protecting children whose education is often threatened by the economic hardship caused by the disasters.

She explained that the intervention seeks to ensure children in beneficiary households remain in school and are not forced to abandon their education because of financial difficulties.

“The Sea Works At Night” project is being implemented over an eight month period as a direct response to the recurring devastation caused by tidal waves in communities such as Agavedzi, Salakope, and Amutinu.

Miss Donkor noted that the repeated disasters have resulted in widespread destruction of homes, loss of livelihoods, and displacement of families, leaving many residents in vulnerable conditions with limited opportunities for recovery.

She stressed that beyond providing immediate relief, the project also aims to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen resilience within the affected communities.

Assembly Member for the Agavedzi Electoral Area, Hon Eben Assah, described the destruction caused by the tidal waves as severe and far reaching.

According to him, the tidal wave problem began around 2015 and has since destroyed thousands of homes within the affected communities.

He, however, commended the government under President John Dramani Mahama for the ongoing sea defence wall project, which he said has significantly reduced the impact of the waves.

“Without the sea defence project, the entire Agavedzi, Salakope and Amutinu communities might have been washed away by now. The intervention has reduced the force of the waves and brought some level of relief,” he stated.

Despite the progress made through the sea defence project, Hon Assah explained that debris left behind in the sea, including remnants of buildings and trees, continues to affect fishing activities.

He said fishermen frequently suffer damage to their fishing nets when they become entangled with submerged debris, making it difficult for them to sustain their businesses.

The Assembly Member further noted that the disasters have had serious consequences on children’s education, as many families can no longer afford school expenses due to the collapse of fishing activities.

He added that the sudden nature of the tidal waves, which often occur at night, has led to the destruction and loss of important documents such as birth certificates, land documents, and school materials.

According to him, fishmongers have also been heavily affected because declining fish catches have reduced the availability of fish for processing and sale, thereby worsening economic hardship in the communities.

Hon Assah expressed optimism about “The Sea Works At Night” project, saying the intervention would help restore livelihoods, especially for fish processors whose ovens and equipment were destroyed by the waves.

He also appealed to other organisations and stakeholders to support the affected communities while expressing gratitude to Friends of Adaklu and Tentonic Movement.

“This support will not be in vain. Beneficiaries will make good use of it so that more organisations will be encouraged to come on board to help,” he said.

For beneficiaries like Setor Juliet, the intervention has restored hope at a time when many residents had given up on receiving assistance.

“We were not expecting any help from anywhere, but by the grace of God, they are here today to support us. We are very happy and thankful. We hope more organisations will come to support us so that life can become easier and more comfortable,” she said.

As tidal waves continue to threaten coastal communities in the Volta Region, initiatives such as “The Sea Works At Night” project are providing vital support to affected families while helping communities rebuild livelihoods and strengthen resilience against future disasters.

Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie MP for Ketu South and Minister for Tourism,Culture and Creative Arts speaking with a
volunteer with Friends of Adaklu during the launch of "The SeaWorks At Night" project at Agavedzi.