Respectfully,
Urgent Call for Action: Coastal Erosion Crisis in Amutsinu Demands Immediate Response.
The devastating news from Salakorpe-Amutsinu in the Ketu South Municipality is a stark reminder of the existential threat of coastal erosion and rising sea levels. A huge portion of this community has been swallowed by the ocean, displacing thousands of residents and leaving families homeless, traumatized, and stripped of their livelihoods.
This is not an isolated incident. Ghanaβs coastline is reportedly vanishing at an alarming rate of 2β5 meters per year, with communities like Fuveme and Dzakplagbe already lost to the waves. The recent tidal surges in Ketu South have destroyed homes, schools, and critical infrastructure, forcing survivors to seek refuge in churches, schools, or makeshift shelters along roadsides. The psychological and economic toll is immeasurable.
The time for action is now. The government must:
- Provide immediate humanitarian reliefβincluding shelter, food, and sanitationβto displaced families, as pledged by NADMO.
- Accelerate long-term coastal protection measures, such as the stalled Blekusu Sea Defense Project and the West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) initiative, to prevent further devastation.
- Adopt holistic solutions beyond seawalls, such as mangrove restoration and “horizontal levees,” which mitigate erosion while preserving ecosystems.
- Relocate at-risk communities with dignity and compensation, as advised by experts, to safer inland areas.
The crisis in Amutsinu is a climate emergency and a humanitarian disaster. Delays in action will only lead to more loss of life, cultural heritage, and economic stability. Ghana cannot afford to waitβthe ocean will not.
As Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, of the University of Ghana once said, βLife is precious. We can rebuild infrastructure. We cannot rebuild a human being.”
