President Mahama visits Coastal Protection Project sites

President John Mahama has announced that construction works under the West Africa Coastal Areas Project (WACA) are set to commence soon, as government moves to address the growing threat of coastal erosion affecting communities in Ghana’s Volta Region.

Speaking during a visit to affected coastal communities, particularly in areas such as Ketu South and Anloga, the President assured residents that the project is being fast-tracked to deliver long-term protection against the encroaching sea.

“Very soon, you’ll see that work will start on your coastal area,” he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to tackling the persistent erosion challenges that have displaced residents and destroyed properties over the years.

President Mahama explained that the project has already progressed through critical preparatory stages. “The feasibility study is finished. They are at the design stage. After the design stage, they’ll do the procurement. That is the actual construction of the WACA project,” he noted.

The WACA initiative, supported by the World Bank with a funding package of $150 million, is designed to protect vulnerable sections of Ghana’s coastline. The project combines engineering solutions with environmentally sustainable approaches to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion and climate change.

Planned interventions include the construction of sea defence infrastructure, as well as the installation of groynes—barrier structures built into the sea to reduce the force of waves and stabilize the shoreline. “There’s going to be sea defence, and they’re also going to be groynes built into the sea to break the currents, the strong waves, so that it will come back to the coast in a very gentle manner,” the President explained.

In addition to these structural measures, the project will incorporate nature-based solutions aimed at restoring coastal ecosystems. These include planting coconut trees along beaches to help stabilize the soil, as well as mangrove restoration in estuary areas to act as natural buffers against tidal surges.

“There will also be planting of coconut trees on the beaches in order to stabilize the soil. They would also help with planting of mangroves in the estuary to defend the land against the sea’s encroachment,” he added.

The President acknowledged that the project experienced delays in 2024 due to the election period but assured residents that implementation has resumed. He emphasized that the funding allocated to the WACA project remains intact and protected.

“So your money is safe, and the project is going to go on,” he said, clarifying that while some World Bank-funded initiatives were restructured, the WACA programme was preserved to ensure continuity.

As part of immediate interventions, the government is also collaborating with the Volta River Authority (VRA) to dredge the estuary. This measure is intended to reduce pressure on the coastline by improving water flow and preventing the sea from forcing new pathways inland.

“Normally, when the estuary is silted, it looks for ways to join the sea in other places. If we dredge it, it allows more water to flow out into the sea,” he explained.

These short-term actions are expected to help mitigate the immediate effects of erosion while the larger WACA project moves toward full implementation.

President Mahama concluded by urging residents to cooperate with authorities, reaffirming the government’s commitment to delivering sustainable, long-term solutions to protect coastal communities and livelihoods.