Accra, April 20, GNA – On a typical holiday like Easter Friday, the stretch of coastline at Sakumono transforms into a vibrant hive of activity.
Families stream in to relax, vendors hustle to sell refreshments, and the sound of waves crashing is magnified by the echoes of laughter and music.
Yet, behind the lively scenes lies an untapped tourism goldmine slowly being buried in filth.
The Sakumono Titanic Beach, unlike its more commercial counterparts such as La, Kokrobite, or Tawala beaches, is free for all.
No gate fees, no designated management – just the open sea and crowds eager to unwind.
This openness has made it a magnet for weekend and holiday visitors, creating a bustling mini-economy of fishmongers, hawkers selling chilled drinks, and ad hoc entertainment.
However, the beach’s growing popularity has come with a cost; poor sanitation. Piles of waste, scattered plastics, and overflowing waste paint an unflattering picture of a site that holds enormous tourism potential.
What should be a pristine recreational haven is now threatened by neglect.
Residents and vendors interviewed on Easter Friday confirmed the routine congestion that clogs the access road, sometimes forcing visitors to park long distances away.
“It’s always packed during holidays,” said a vendor of grilled fish near the roadside.
“The police come around in plain clothes to keep watch, but we need more than that.”
The absence of a formal structure or oversight has left the beach at the mercy of the elements and the habits of careless patrons.
With no dedicated waste collection plan, no permanent shelters, only make shift tents, and no tourism infrastructure, the beach falls short of the standard needed to become a major attraction.
This situation calls for immediate intervention by the Tema West Municipal Assembly, under whose jurisdiction Sakumono falls.
The Assembly could leverage the beach’s growing popularity to create a sustainable tourist site, one that boosts local jobs, generates internal funds, and offers a safe, clean, and organised environment for fun-seekers.
A well-modeled Sakumono Beach, with managed entry, designated vending areas, clean restrooms, and shaded spaces, has the potential to rival any of the top beach destinations in Ghana.
But it will take more than hopeful observations – it requires concerted efforts, political will, and community engagement.
With the right investment and oversight, the Sakumono Titanic Beach could shift from being an underused stretch of coast to one of Ghana’s proudest recreational destinations.
GNA
ABD