Keta residents demand opening of Havedzi flood gate, dredging of Lagoon to curb perennial flooding

Some residents of Keta and its surrounding communities in the Volta Region, have called on authorities to open the flood control gate at Havedzi and dredge the Keta Lagoon to alleviate the devastating flooding in the area.

They said that the current flood waters have submerged homes, farmlands, and public infrastructure in the enclave which increased the plight of the residents in the affected areas.

The residents made the appeal as the Keta Lagoon continues to overflow its banks, with rising water levels spilling into communities along the coastal belt and rendering many households uninhabitable, with families forced to abandon their property and seek refuge on higher ground.

Mr Promise Wotorbe, a resident of Kedzi, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, called on the relevant authorities and agencies to open the flood control gate at Havedzi to pave the way for the lagoon water to flow freely into the sea.

“Some few years ago, the flood gate was opened, and such action has proven effective previously, which remains the most viable immediate solution to the current crisis,” he said.

He recalled with appreciation that during the tenure of NPP’s Mr Emmanuel Gemegah, the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, the flood gates were opened after thorough consultation with the technocrats, local authorities, engineers and traditional leaders before executing the exercise, which brought significant relief to the affected communities.

He stated that the opening of the lagoon floodgates and the sandbar at Azizadzi-Havedzi had in the past commenced to allow the free flow of the lagoon into the sea, which helped to mitigate devastating flooding in the three municipalities of Keta, Anloga, and Ketu South.

“In addition to the opening of the flood gate, we are also calling for the dredging of the Keta Lagoon, because siltation and the gradual narrowing of the lagoon bed have reduced its capacity to contain water, making it increasingly susceptible to overflow during periods of dam spillage and heavy rains.”

Mr Wotorbe said Keta Lagoon, which extends through Anloga, Keta, Ketu South, and parts of Ketu North, has been breaking its boundaries due to controlled spillage of the Akosombo Dam by the Volta River Authority, with the Volta Lake entering the Atlantic Ocean between Ada and Anyanui and connecting with the Keta Lagoon at Fuveme and Agorkedzi areas, thereby increasing the level of the lagoon.

Mr John Dumeda, a 75-year-old resident of the area, said that during the construction of the Keta Sea Defense project, a flood control gates of total length 80.5 metres was built to maintain the lagoon level and relieve inhabitants living around the Keta Lagoon, with the opening of the flood control gates of the sea defense allowing water into the lagoon area.

He said Mr Rex Edeckor, a former consultant in charge of the Keta Sea Defense project and lead engineer for the opening of the floodgate, previously stated that the flood situation in those areas could get dangerous, stressing that the opening of the floodgate and the cutting of the sandbar is the only option available.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency to some communities such Havedzi, Kedzi, Horvi, Vodza, Kedzikope and several others along the Keta coastal belt indicated that they have been affected by the perennial flooding waters driven by continuous rainfall and the overflow of the Keta Lagoon.

The residents said nothing short of urgent structural and operational intervention would bring lasting relief to the people of the enclave.

GNA