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An assemblyman in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region has urged government to step up its efforts to tackle the tidal wave menace affecting communities.
Sylvester Kumawu stated in an interview on Prime Morning that since the disaster destroyed homes and properties last year, the government and other bodies responsible for the completion of the promised sea defence project have done little or nothing about it.
He lamented the tardiness of state actors, describing their slow response to the plight of residents in the affected areas as “not only despicable but mind-boggling.”
“We were in this country when the unfortunate incident happened to our compatriots at Appiatse and the response government gave we are all aware. Within a space of one week, the President gave a directive and then the Vice President, together with some government officials, were there.
“As quickly as possible, they were able to set up a fund to reconstruct that community and that is laudable. Why won’t government channel the same energy to the victims that are suffering from the tidal waves? It’s as if government is biased and they don’t care about the people of the Volta Region,” he observed.
On Sunday, April 3, some residents of Keta and Agavedzi were displaced for the second time in less than five months by tidal waves.
Some moved to higher grounds to seek shelter, while others had no choice but to sleep on mattresses along major roads.
Following this, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South, Maxwell Lugudor, said government will ensure their problems are resolved immediately.
He added that he has secured funding to build infrastructures for victims who lost their houses due to the incident.
Reacting to promises by government and its allied agencies, the Amutinu and Salakope Assemblyman blamed government of paying lip service to the communities.
“This is something that is dated back to 2015 and so when the erstwhile NDC administration heard that the indigenes were planning to stage a demonstration, quickly, President John Mahama signed the first phase of the sea defence project. From 2017, I could remember vividly that I personally had to take the then Minister for Works and Housing, Hon Atta Akyea to the site…
“Government has failed the good people of Amutinu, Salakope and Agavedzi and it is time the government takes responsibility and do something about this. We are not getting any concrete answers or solutions to our plights.
“The lip service is becoming unbecoming. We have heard absolutely anything, which could give us hope that in a matter of days, in a matter of weeks, the construction of the sea defence project – that is the major solution to the problem – will be rolled out,” he added.
Source: myJoy
