Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to climate resilience and environmental protection as he led the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.

Addressing a gathering of traditional leaders, residents, technocrats, and government officials, the Minister described the project as a critical national intervention aimed at protecting lives, restoring livelihoods, and responding to the urgent threat of rising sea levels and tidal waves.

“This project is not just about stones and groynes. It is about people. It is about the mothers, the children, and the fishermen who have lost everything to the sea. It is about restoring hope and reclaiming the livelihoods that have been washed away by tidal waves,” the Minister stated.

Mr Adjei highlighted that the journey began in 2015, when President John Mahama launched Phase I of the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project, which involved constructing groynes along a 4.3-kilometre stretch to protect Azizadzi, Horvi, and Blekusu. The intervention significantly reduced tidal devastation in those communities.

However, over time, Salakope, Agavedzi, Amutinu, and Abutigun remained exposed to intensified tidal wave action, worsened by climate change. The Minister noted that after the completion of Phase I, the calls for an extension became impossible to ignore.

“It became clear that a second phase was not just necessary but urgent. Our people were suffering, and we could not wait any longer. Today, we have come back to finish what we started,” he said.

The Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who was visibly emotional, expressed immense joy and relief over the start of Phase II. She recounted years of frustration and desperate pleas to the previous administration that yielded no action.

“There were times I had to cry publicly about the pain and suffering of my people. I went to the previous administration again and again, but nothing was done. President Mahama heard our cry, and within six months, he has delivered. He is truly a father who listens to his children,” she said.

Dzifa Gomashie thanked the President and the Ministry for responding to the community’s long-standing need and emphasized the importance of seeing the project through to completion.

Spanning four years (2025–2029), Phase II will be executed by Armandine Golding Limited under the supervision of the Ghana Hydrological Authority. It will extend protection to an additional 8-kilometre stretch of coastline through the construction of 37 groynes, alongside beach nourishment and ecological restoration to reinforce natural buffers against wave energy.

Crucially, the project will also deliver socio-economic infrastructure, including a modern fish market, a cold storage facility, a designated fish drying and smoking areas.

“We are not only building defenses we are building livelihoods. These investments will directly support our fisherfolk and market women and empower the coastal economy,” the Minister stated.

Mr Adjei called on local residents to support the project with cooperation and vigilance.

“We can build the best structures, but without community ownership, their purpose will be diminished. I urge all of us to treat this as our collective responsibility. Let’s protect it, let’s maintain it, and let’s be proud of what we are building together,” he emphasised.

The Minister, however, reiterated the broader objectives of the project, which include preventing the destruction of infrastructure and property, strengthening resilience to coastal hazards, supporting Ghana’s climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategy.

“Together, we will reclaim our coastlines, restore our communities, and secure a safer, more resilient future for generations to come,” the Minister affirmed.

The Blekusu Coastal Protection Project Phase II represents more than an engineering feat it is a symbol of responsive leadership, community resilience, and hope restored for thousands who live with the constant threat of losing everything to the sea.