Construction works are on course to complete the biggest marine frontier project in Ghana — the Ada Coastal Protection Works — by the end of 2016.

The Government of Ghana project  is expected to reclaim 14.7 km stretch of coastal bed  lost along the Atlantic Ocean in the Ada East District in the Greater Accra Region.

The first phase of the project, which involved the construction of 15 groynes and other onshore works, have been completed, while work is progressing steadily on the second phase, which comprises mainly beach nourishment and protective barriers.

Systematically, engineers and construction workers are implementing a system for the coastline to have a buffer against attacks by the ocean waves.

Dredging International and International Marine and Dredging Construction (IMDC), both Belgian companies, are the contractors and consultants respectively for the project.

Threat
The Ada coastline was said to be disappearing at a rate of between 6-8 metres a year, which created a serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of the inhabitants.

Many people living along the coastline were forced to evacuate their homes to safe places as the marauding sea waves approached.

The main road in front of the Ada East District Assembly offices was gradually being washed away; but for the sea protection project, the main offices would have been brought down in ruins by the sea.

It was to save the situation from further deterioration and bring relief to the people that the government sought funds to undertake the project.

Last Saturday when the Daily Graphic visited the project site to see the progress of work, officials disclosed that the first phase had already been completed, while the second phase was also progressing steadily.

“Work started in early 2013 and this is a 36-month project which we hope to complete within the specified period,” Mr Adrian Roets, project Engineer, said.

Second phase
The construction company had deployed a dredging vessel- THSD Congo River – on the Atlantic to suck up sand materials from the sea bed and pump them through a pipe on to the shore to reclaim the lost beach.

A storm barrier is also under construction. Mr Roets, a South African Marine Engineer by profession, said the entire idea was to reclaim the coastline.

“We want to make sure that at the end of the day we have the natural conditions that existed here (coastline),” he added.

Good project
Mr Roets described the project as one of the best things to happen to Ghana.

“This is a good project for Ghana and the government,” he said.

The project is also offering employment to skilled youth in the area. According to the project engineer, 260 of the employees are Ghanaians, while 40 are expatriates.

DCE
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the District Chief Executive for Ada East, Mr  John Ahortu, said the people of the area would ever be grateful to the government for the project which had saved lives and property.

He said many people who were affected by the sea waves could now heave a sigh of relief.

Daily Graphic