Government Risking $84 Million

Credible information gathered by Chronicle, after a tour of the Keta district strongly suggests that the $84 million being sunk by the government of Ghana into the Sea Defence Project may be going down the drain due to the high level of sabotaging activities of some people from the area at the project site.

The activities which involve the deliberate sand winning at reclaimed sites and the wilful destruction of slope protection plants at the bund, is giving the management of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, the main contractors, a great deal of concern.

They have subsequently written to caution the district assembly and chief executive on the great danger ahead, if things continue the way they are going.

According to the strongly-worded letter dated April 14, this year, and signed by Garry H. Shack, project manager, on behalf of the company, the contractors have recorded continuous reports of significant levels of damages to planted areas of the protection bund in the revetment vicinity; and expressed dismay at the uncooperative attitude of some of the people.

"I am surprised at the lack of respect for the works and those working on the project shown by the residents of the area", the letter stated.

It further warned the assembly on the company's mission in the country by stating: "While our contract requires maintenance of certain works, it does not extend to wilful (by intent) or accidental destruction of the works due to failure to exercise due care".

Mr. Shack condemned the habit of destroying carefully planted species of grass which were meant to prevent wear-induced overtopping events from reaching inhabited areas and explained in no uncertain terms that his company's maintenance obligation only applies to attrition of plants by natural causes.

He explained that "such natural causes do not extend to livestock, vehicular or foot traffic."

The letter requested the chief executive, Emmanuel Kwame Vorkeh, to undertake a training programme to educate the public on the harm such destruction will cause the project.

Chronicle is equally amazed at another letter from the Ministry of Mines to the same D.C.E. concerning sand winning in the area.

Dated April 15, this year (and incidentally a day after Mr. Shack's protest one), and signed by Mr. E. Adadey, technical director, the letter said inter alia: "We wish to indicate that there is no existing law which prohibits sand winning along the coastline of Ghana."

Ironically, the letter, which was meant to have been written on behalf of the then minister Hon. Adjei Darko, clearly contradicted itself when it stated later on that "winners without a valid licence from the Minerals Commission and permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and Mines Department would be operating illegally."

The rather confusing letter was distributed to all participants at the just-ended second ordinary assembly meeting and was seen by many as muddying the already murky Keta waters.

In an interview with the Mr. Vorkeh, the chief executive, he confirmed the concerns of the construction company and also hinted that, even though the chiefs and fishermen of Dzelukope had banned sand winning along the beaches, recalcitrant winners have shifted their activities to the nights.

He intimated that such people are seen in their numbers with head pans fetching sand at restricted areas.

Unfortunately, he said, no arrests have been made so far. According to the D.C.E, volunteers who have vowed to guard the beaches are branded enemies of the people and are sometimes engaged in scuffles.

He added that the assembly only manages to give volunteers paltry sums as pocket monies which are not encouraging enough.

In an appeal to the people he said: "This is our lifeline. We can't have only rocks all around us. Sand is the first protection and the grass is the second; so if the two are destroyed then we are doomed".

He also called for an enforcement of sand winning laws in the country, a thing the Mines Ministry technical director says does not exist in our statute books.

The $84 million defence project is at the moment supposed to be about 80% complete, but with the difficulties Manthex Company, the sub-contractor, is facing, it is not likely the August self-assured deadline is feasible.

What is also not clear is who is to bear the cost of maintenance of the already damaged parts of work done.

A few people are suggesting that the entire project area should be declared a security zone to keep sand winners off the beaches.