Residents and owners of businesses in the hospitality industry at Ampenyi in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem municipality are appealing for support as the sea is gradually taking over their properties.
A predominantly fishing community, the town is gradually losing its grip to the sea. Properties which were initially some 100 metres away from the shore are slowly being swallowed.
In 1997 Ampenyin was nominated as Pan African Festival (Panafest) Village by the board of Panafest. The Ghana Tourist Board awarded Ampenyin beach as the nicest beach in Ghana in 2003 however, the story is not the same now.
Scores of properties including community bathrooms, homes of residents, beach shades, as well as coconut trees have all been lost to the sea. Rocks, which hitherto could be spotted yards away from the shore have also been swallowed up. Residents fear that what is left of other structures currently along the shore is also likely to be lost with time.
Cause of Ampenyi’s predicament
The gradual loss of Ampenyi’s beautiful beachline to the sea has been a challenge the town has battled for years.
According to the chief of the town, a number of factors have been identified. Nana Takyi Akyin IV cited the extension of the harbour at Takoradi, and sand winning at the beach for residents’ personal housing projects as the possible reason for the sea extending its boundary. However, he noted that on the winning of sand, residents had been cautioned by operators of businesses in the hospitality industry against the practice and though for the past 4 years the practice had stopped, the situation is only worsening.
Nana Takyi Akyin IV explained further that although they cannot tell the actual reason, they feel “it is the sea that could be taking its natural course.”
He is therefore calling on government to treat the situation with urgency and employ measures needful to curb it. He said if possible, government should consider constructing a sea defense.
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Effect on businesses and residents
The rage of the sea has shown very little mercy to anything in its path. The residents believe that in a few more months, they will practically be losing their homes if authorities do not address this age long situation.
One woman, Adwoa Badu told ATLFMNEWS, “It’s really a disturbing situation; anytime there is a high tide it floods our rooms, so we have to collect the water with pans.”
Another said, “The water floods my room all the time and I have had to move my household items to a neighbor’s home a number of times. After the tides go down, I wash up the room and move back because I have nowhere to go. I have lost my children’s birth certificates due to this.”
Anantum is fisherman and he explains that going fishing has become unbearable as it poses a risk to their lives.
“Of late, the tides are so high that, it is risky when we go fishing. We find it difficult leaving and returning to the shore. The sea has washed the beaches so much that we find it difficult to draw the canoes to the shores. If nothing is done we might have nowhere else to park our canoes.”
Business owners are more concerned over this development and fear a possible collapse of their businesses if the necessary intervention is not given. Mr. Charles James Lee is the Managing Director of Charlestina Beach Resort and he said they may have to deepen the foundation of their boundary walls due to the effect of the erosion. He is worried the town will soon be left with no beach if the situation is not salvaged.
Assembly member for the area, Charles Badu, who could not hide his frustration, told the news team, countless efforts made over the years to get appropriate authorities to attend to the situation have not yielded any results.
“We have been pursuing this matter for the past two years now but we’ve not seen any results. In fact, the situation is very disturbing. If government does not help us in about 2 years’ time, the half of Ampeyin will be destroyed.”
Meanwhile, MP for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Constituency, Mr. Samuel Atta-Mills who spoke off record to ATL FM News explained the problem had reached him and efforts are being made to save the situation.
He said he has reached the Minister for works and housing, and is hopeful that he will respond soon.
ABA AIKINS APPAH/ATLFM NEWS
