Tema: Tema Manhean faces an existential threat from severe sea erosion, and immediate action is required to prevent its disappearance. Mr. Robert T.K. Amiteye, Coordinator of AbibiNsroma Foundation, issued a dire warning during the World Ocean Day celebration in Tema, emphasizing the necessity of constructing a sea defence wall to combat the relentless erosion.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Amiteye pleaded on behalf of the residents, urging the Ghanaian government to quickly address the ongoing displacements and damages inflicted by the encroaching sea. The local community is increasingly anxious as high tides exacerbate the erosion and threaten their homes and livelihoods.

In discussions with community members, there was widespread frustration over the perceived inaction of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and the Central Government. Residents reported that the erosion is adversely affecting their health, children’s education, and overall quality of life.

Efforts to counteract the erosion have seen t
he community resort to using indigenous methods, such as sand-filled sacks and garbage dumping along the shoreline, to create makeshift barriers against the tides. Mr. Amiteye acknowledged these efforts but criticized the unsustainable nature of using garbage as a defence, noting its contribution to ocean pollution, particularly plastics, which also impact local fishing activities.

He stressed the importance of this year’s World Ocean Day theme, “Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us,” highlighting the vital role oceans play in providing resources like seafood, tourism opportunities, and jobs. Mr. Amiteye called for responsible management of ocean resources to ensure their availability for future generations and urged governments and international maritime organizations to collaborate for oceanic peace and justice.