Tema, June 08,GNA – Tema Manhean will cease to exist soon if a sea defence wall is not built to check the marauding sea erosion.
Mr Robert T.K Amiteye, Coordinator of AbibiNsroma Foundation, sounded the alarm in Tema during the celebration of World Ocean Day.
The theme for 2025 Ocean Day is, “Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us”
“On behalf of the people of Tema Manhean we plead that, the government of Ghana needs to find a quick solution to prevent further displacements, loss and damages being suffered by the people.
Local residents are threatened by the pace of the invasion of the sea at high tide, ” he said.
In an engagement with the community, some indigenous folks expressed disappointment about the lack of attention and inaction by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Central Government.
They said their livelihoods, health and education of their children were being affected negatively.
He said the people were trying to use indigenous knowledge and available resources to build a defense wall against the overwhelming tidal waves.
“Sand packed in sacks as sand banks and dumping of garbage at the shoreline seem to be the only unsustainable option to them.
But since there is no help from anywhere, they fight everyday to survive on this tiny strip of land given them after the building of Tema industrial town and the Harbour.”
Mr Amiteye disclosed that the dumping of the garbage at the coastline over decades had affected the health of the ocean.
“A large chunk of heaped garbage, acting as a defence wall is full of plastics, contributing to the global ocean plastic menace. This cannot be a sustainable approach for mitigation and adaptation measures.
Ocean plastics affect fishes and fishermen also complain of plastics in their catch.”
He said the theme for this year was crucial for mankind to appreciate the resources and importance of the oceans.
“From ocean travel transshipment opportunities, tourism. Seafoods, jobs, and medicine, we have a responsibility to protect and use the ocean resources in a sustainable manner to also meet the needs of future generations.
We should end the unsustainable fishing methods such as the use of dynamite, unapproved nets, light fishing and deep sea mining.
He appealed to governments and international maritime organisations to work together to achieve peace and justice for the ocean.
GNA
Edited by Samuel OSEI-FREMPONG