By Jones Anlimah
Ongoing construction works on Phase II of the Blekusu Sea Defence Project in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region is progressing steadily, with the Minister for Works and Housing, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, expressing satisfaction after inspecting the site together with the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu.
The visit, formed part of the Minister’s tour of major coastal protection projects in the region.
Speaking after the inspection, the sector minister said the visit was to verify progress on the ground relative to payment certificates submitted by the contractor, Messrs Amandi Holding Limited.
“I’ve been receiving payment certificates in the office and kept asking myself if the work is really going on as indicated. So I decided to visit the site to ensure that whatever comes to my desk reflects actual progress,” he said.
According to the Minister, the contractor is currently working on six groins simultaneously out of the expected 37 groins to be constructed along an 8-kilometre stretch, each spaced about 220 metres apart.
“If within this short period they have been able to start work on six groins, looking at the machinery, the quarry operations and the staff strength, I think they are on track. They are even ahead of time,” Mr. Adjei noted.
“We will support you, but only if the right thing is being done. We will keep coming, and when you decide to go back, we will push you forward.”
He encouraged the contractor to sustain the momentum, adding that an earlier completion would relieve coastal communities of the recurring hardships caused by tidal waves.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, commended the contractor and urged the project team to expedite work on accompanying community-benefiting infrastructure.
“Yes, we appreciate the work they are doing, but there are auxiliary facilities that come with this whole project. They can start those ones at the same time so the community benefits, like the cold store, the market and so on,” he said.
He reaffirmed the cooperation of the Regional Coordinating Council and appealed to residents to support the project by avoiding actions that obstruct construction activities.
“We also urge the community not to bring any impediments to the contractors. The work is progressing. Let’s make progress for Ghana and the Volta Region,” he added.
The Project Director for Messrs Amandi Holding Limited, Mr. Audhud Deri, said the team has achieved significant milestones since mobilization.
He noted visible improvements along portions of the coastline following the installation of the initial groins.
“If you remember when we were here a few months ago, the water was on the road. Today we are walking on land that didn’t exist. We can see groin one to six, and equipment is working on three at the same time,” he said.
Mr. Deri added that while the project is scheduled for 37 months beginning July 2025, the company is ahead of schedule.
“The first one kilometre is already showing stability. The important thing is to provide relief for the people who were suffering and now they can start to see the result,” he noted.
The Phase II of the Blekusu Sea Defence Project in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region aims to protect vulnerable coastal communities including Blekusu, Salakope, Agavedzi, and Amutinu from tidal wave destruction and create safer living conditions along the Volta coastline.
