H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana
Flagbearer, National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Dear President Mahama,
I write to you today not just as a journalist, but as a daughter of the coastal communities of the Volta Region—a people battered by the unforgiving waves of the sea for decades. I write with a deep sense of urgency because, once again, the lives and livelihoods of thousands in Keta, Anloga, and Ketu South municipalities are under severe threat from the ravaging effects of tidal waves.
When you met the press during your recent campaign tour in the Volta Region, I personally asked you about this crisis and whether you would truly commit to finding a solution if given the mandate to lead Ghana once again. Your response was reassuring—you promised to act decisively. Today, the time has come for you to redeem that promise.
1. The People Are Losing Everything—Homes, Livelihoods, and Hope
For years, the residents of Salakope, Agavedzi, Fuveme, Kporkporgbor, and several other coastal towns have endured the merciless destruction caused by tidal waves. Kporkporgbor in the Anloga District has been completely washed away, while Fuveme is on the verge of vanishing. These were once-thriving fishing and farming communities, but today, families live in fear, watching helplessly as their homes and lands disappear beneath the waves.
The psychological and economic toll on these communities is unbearable. Fishermen have lost their canoes and nets, market women have lost their goods, and children are struggling to continue their education because schools are constantly flooded or destroyed.
Mr. President, these are your people. They are the same people who have stood by you and the NDC through every election cycle. They do not deserve to be abandoned.
2. The Government Has Made Promises, But the Sea Takes More Each Year
The Blekusu Sea Defence Project was meant to be a beacon of hope for these communities. The first phase was completed, but the second phase, which was supposed to cover an 8-kilometer stretch, remains stalled. Each time political leaders visit, they bring relief items, take photographs, make sweet promises, and leave. The result? Nothing changes.
Meanwhile, the sea keeps advancing, swallowing entire communities. The coastal road network connecting Keta, Havedzi, Denu, and Aflao is now on the verge of collapse. At Salakope and Agavedzi, the distance between the sea and the road is now less than 50 meters. The ongoing spring tides from February 1-4 could wipe out this crucial road if urgent action is not taken.
3. A Lasting Solution Is Possible—And Now Is the Time to Deliver It
Mr. President, Ghana is a beneficiary of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP 2), which is designed to tackle exactly this kind of crisis. However, without strong leadership, commitment, and urgency, these funds will not be used effectively. The people of the Volta Region need you to champion this cause not just in words, but in real, tangible action.
Beyond the Blekusu project, Ghana must develop a comprehensive national strategy to combat coastal erosion and protect its coastal communities from Anloga to Ada, from Cape Coast to Axim. Countries like the Netherlands and Japan have successfully implemented coastal protection measures—why can’t Ghana do the same?
4. The People of the Volta Region Have Stood with You—Stand with Them Now
I was born and raised in the coastal area of the Volta Region, specifically in Anloga, though my roots trace back to Woe in the Anloga District and Anlo Afiadenyigba in the Keta Municipality. I have spent more than two decades as a journalist, reporting on this issue and witnessing firsthand the frustration and helplessness of my own people. It breaks my heart to see them continuously suffer while politicians visit only during election seasons.
The people of Anlo, Keta, and Ketu South have genuinely supported you throughout your political career. They have voted for you, campaigned for you, and trusted you to deliver for them. Now is your moment to prove to them that their trust was not misplaced.
5. Leave a Legacy That Will Stand the Test of Time
Mr. President, this is your opportunity to be remembered as the leader who solved one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental crises. This is bigger than politics. The sea does not care which party you belong to—it only cares about reclaiming the land. The question is: will you allow it to happen, or will you take action to stop it?
If nothing is done, we could wake up one day and find that the entire stretch of coastal communities in the Volta Region has been wiped off the map. That is not a prophecy of doom—it is a scientific reality, and we are already seeing it happen.
A Final Plea for Immediate Action
Mr. President, the time for promises is over. The time for temporary relief items is over. What we need is action.
I urge you to:
- Ensure the immediate completion of the Blekusu Sea Defence Project (Phase Two).
- Push for the proper implementation of the WACA ResIP 2 project to benefit Ghana’s coastal communities.
- Develop a long-term coastal protection strategy that includes effective sea walls and erosion prevention measures.
- Declare the Keta-Havedzi-Denu-Aflao road network a national emergency project before it is destroyed.
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to saving not just Volta’s coastline, but all vulnerable coastal regions in Ghana.
The people of the Volta Region are waiting. I am waiting.
We need good news, and we need it now.
Yours faithfully,
Ivy Priscilla Setordjie
Journalist, Media Personality – (Joy News, Volta Regional Correspondent)
Professional Master of Ceremony (MC)
Gender and Children Advocate
CEO & Founder, Nutifafa African Women and Children Foundation