Lecturer calls for better understanding of Ghana coastlines to manage tidal waves

A lecturer at the Department of Marine and Fisheries of the University of Ghana says a better understanding of Ghana’s coastline is crucial to manage effects of tidal waves.

Selorm Ababio says although tidal waves cannot be prevented, its effects on livelihood and living conditions on people living along the coastline can be properly managed.

“We need a shore management plan as part of our coastal areas management because the population on the coastline is going to continue to increase – people will continue to want to live on the coastline,” he said on PM Express news analysis programme on Monday.

He was commenting on the displacement of people and the destruction of properties following flooding caused by tidal waves in the Keta municipality of the Volta Region especially but also at other coastline areas in the countries.

On Sunday, strong sea waves for a fourth time this year displaced hundreds of residents and destroyed properties at Fuveme, Kporkporgbor, Dzita and Anyanui – all island communities at Keta.

Also in Elembelle District of the Western Region some 100 residents were displaced when their homes got flooded following strong sea waves.

On PM Express, Selorm Ababio said as the nation develops more people will be attracted to the coastline areas, hence the need for a comprehensive plan to deal with flooding that caused by rising sea.

“Ghana needs an organic plan, not a static plan that is shelved, that helps us manage sea height in the future and what we should do in future – which part we need to protect, which part we need to encourage people to move away from and which part we need to advance with beautiful buildings,” he said.

Although governemnt MP for Anlo, Kofi Homado, said on the show that governemnt plans to put up a sea defence project to tackle the situation, the University of Ghana lecturer says the type of sea defence being adopted is not the best.

"Putting rocks on the beach all the time is the not the best solution. It just shifts the problem from one location to another. Let's look at it holistically," Selorm Ababio said.

Meanwhile, some Environmentalists have projected that the flooded caused by strong waves will continue until June this year.