Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - Two Members of Parliament from the Volta Region on Wednesday drew the attention of Parliament to the considerable destruction being caused by an unusually strong tidal action along the south eastern corner of the country and the immense human suffering that had resulted from it.
Mr Dan Abodakpi, NDC-Keta and Lt. Col. Charles Agbenaza, (rtd.) NDC-Ketu South, in a joint statement presented on the floor of the House, said: "The south eastern shore line of our country has been pounded by unusually strong tidal waves, especially between Anyanui in the Keta District and Adina in the Ketu District."
They therefore appealed to the Ministry of Works and Housing and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for assistance to help victims along the coast who recently suffered from the ravages of a strong tidal wave.
Mr Abodakpi said after officials of NADMO visited the affected areas to assess the extent of damage caused by the waves, on October 20, no "material or tangible help had been given to the people."
He said the havoc caused by the tidal wave could be the result of the unintended effects of the Keta Sea Defence Project. He appealed for help and urged the appropriate authorities to move in "quickly to avert a humanitarian crisis."
"I can report that 119 houses have been affected between Kedzi-Sorku and Kedzi-Zorvi resulting in the displacement of 108 people."
In a contribution, Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, said as part of the solution to the sea erosion problem, which had affected some parts of the coastline of the West African Sub-Region, a programme should be developed under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) initiative to ensure that the issue was addressed. Mr Joseph Darko-Mensah, NPP Okaikwei-North, urged the district assemblies in the affected areas to step in to assist in moving people from the area further inland.
Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said it would be appropriate to review the Standing Orders of the House to ensure that Ministers of states were on hand to respond immediately to such statements for prompt action to be taken. Earlier, the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and Interior on the Protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security including other papers were laid before the House.
