The Deputy Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, wants stakeholders to condemn human activities such as sand winning in the Volta Region.
This, he said will reduce the impact of tidal waves that ravaged parts of the region last week.
During a press conference in the precincts of Parliament on Friday, November 12, 2021, Mr. Afenyo-Markin stressed the need for the issue to be tackled from a non-partisan perspective.
He urged Ghanaians to condemn and take action against sand winning to reduce the impact of tidal waves.
Amidst the criticism of the government for not providing prompt relief to displaced residents in communities on the Keta-Aflao stretch affected by the tidal waves, the Deputy Majority Leader said, “the relief items are not the solution. They are temporary relief after the whole thing has occurred,” he added.
He argued that “the research is clearly pointing to the fact that these [sand winning] activities are making the people there more vulnerable, and it will cause the nation more money in terms of recovery.”
The Volta Region caucus, represented by the South Dayi MP, Rockson Dafeamekpor, however, said the Deputy Majority Leader’s comments were unfounded.
“That is the most pathetic statement I have heard on this matter… Sand winning does not cause tidal waves to pound coastlines. He has come here to paint a picture that is clearly not reflecting off the coastline of Keta or Anloga,” Mr. Dafeamakpor added.
Meanwhile, the Keta Municipal Assembly at an emergency Municipal Security meeting on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, placed a ban on sand mining activities at its beaches with immediate effect and until further notice.
The ban is part of measures adopted by the municipal assembly, to curb sea erosion that has been blamed largely for the recent tidal waves that wrecked peoples’ homes in that enclave.