The Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, has called for a holistic approach in solving the perennial destruction caused by tidal waves in the Volta Region.

He stated that the completion of the Keta sea defense project will not be a lasting solution to the problem.

Prof. Appeaning Addo, who has been researching coastal erosion for over a decade, said a sea defense wall will only transfer the problem to another area.

“Sea defence is a good solution but it doesn’t really give the entire solution we are looking for. Putting in sea defence structures is just solving the problem within a particular area. It also transfers the problem to other areas,” he told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s News Night on Monday.

Describing the construction of a sea defence as a “half engineering approach,” the University of Ghana lecturer said “it is not the best way to go”

“We need to understand the dynamics, understand what is going on there and try to look at all the issues, bring them together and have a holistic approach, which to me, will be the way to go,” he said.

Thousands of people in the Keta Municipality were rendered homeless after tidal waves swept through their homes on Sunday dawn.

Communities such as Abutiakope, Kedzikope, and Keta Central are largely affected and residents have nothing to salvage.

The frequency of tidal wave attacks along coastal towns in the country has intensified; a phenomenon some have blamed on climate change.

Prof. Addo, reacting to this, agreed to the assertion.

"We cannot rule out climate change. Erosion is a natural phenomenon. With climate change, we are observing increasing sea-level rise. We are also observing an increased frequency of storm surge…we cannot rule out climate change. The frequency of these natural occurrences has increased due to climate change,” Prof. Addo added.

The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has disclosed that the Finance Ministry will allocate funds for the construction of the second phase of the Keta sea defense wall.

According to Mr. Asenso-Boakye, the completion of works under the second phase of the project is expected to cover a minimum coastal stretch of 8km.

Speaking at a press conference, on Monday, Mr. Asenso-Boakye said that, “the Ministry of Works and Housing knows the urgency of the second phase of the project to protect the other communities. To this end, the Ministry has commenced urgent steps to implement the second phase of the project.”

He added that the Ministry has finalized the evaluation of the relevant proposals for the construction to begin.