General News of Thursday, 13 August 2009

Source: GNA

Govt committed to protecting the shoreline

Keta, Aug 13, GNA - Mr Albert Abongo, the Minister of Water Resources Works, and Housing has said government was committed to protecting the country's coastline against sea erosion. He said the relevant agencies were keeping a close watch on the shoreline for timely interventions to save life and property and also forestall people from losing their livelihood.

The Minister said this on Wednesday during a visit to the Keta Municipal Area. He said a defence wall would be built long the Atorkor/Akplorwotorkor/Dzita coastline that was hit by tidal waves last year.

Mr Abongo appealed to the Keta Municipal Assembly to devise means of stopping sand winning along the beaches especially Keta which is particularly vulnerable.

He visited the affected coastlines, the Keta Defence Wall, the Resettlement Housing Project and Vodza, one of the communities in the Keta Sea Defense Project area where residents are yet to be resettled. Mr Abongo directed the assembly to investigate claims that some of the completed resettlement housing units under the Sea Defence Project were being located under "protocol considerations" to some individuals who were not original beneficiaries.

He also urged the assembly to complement government efforts by providing some additional facilities, such as utilities in the affected area.