Coastal communities in Ada have renewed calls for urgent government intervention to construct sea defence systems to curb the increasing rate of erosion threatening lives and property.

Residents say the shoreline, which was once far from their settlements, is steadily advancing inland, destroying homes and forcing families to relocate.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), residents disclosed that several communities along the coast were gradually shifting inland due to the persistent tidal waves, with buildings along the shoreline being lost to the sea.

They cited several public and private facilities that had been affected, including the Ada Foah Basic School, which had reportedly been relocated four times due to the advancing sea.

Other structures destroyed by the tidal waves include offices of the Department of Agriculture, the former Police Commander’s residence, bungalows of district chief executives, residences of medical officers, and the Meteorological Office.

Churches, court buildings, schools, parts of the District Assembly, cemeteries and other infrastructure have also been affected, as the sea continues to claim large portions of land.

Mr Kofi Larweh, an opinion leader and retired media practitioner, who led a team of journalists to the affected areas, noted that the situation was worsening and required urgent attention.

He disclosed that a tidal wave energy project at Ada Foah by IC’s Energy SPV, which sought to harness sea waves for electricity generation, had been disrupted due to the intensity of the waves.

Mr Larweh said the project’s equipment broke down twice, leading to the suspension of operations.

Residents, many of whom depended on fishing for their livelihoods, said the erosion had also impacted marine resources, forcing some to turn to livestock rearing as an alternative source of income.

Communities including Totope, Puteh, Elavanyor, Anyakpor, Ocansekorpe, and Azizanya have all been affected by the erosion.

In some areas, rising water levels have made it difficult to construct toilet facilities, compelling residents to resort to open defecation along the beaches, a situation that poses public health risks.

Hand-dug wells remain the primary source of water for many residents, who rely on them for cooking, bathing, washing, and other domestic purposes.

Residents said the speed at which the sea was eroding the coastline was alarming and appealed to the Government and relevant stakeholders to take immediate action.

They noted that without urgent intervention, more communities could lose their lands and livelihoods to the advancing sea.