Businesses and Lives at Risk as Coastal Erosion Threatens Agavedzi and Keta-Aflao——-Businesses along the Agavedzi Keta-Aflao corridor are facing a severe crisis as coastal erosion rapidly consumes land and threatens critical infrastructure. A phenomenon that has persisted for decades, the erosion has intensified in recent weeks, placing local commercial establishments including a major salt mining company, at significant risk.
According to Mr. Joel Degue, a resident of Agavedzi, the erosion is advancing at an alarming rate, endangering not only homes but also the businesses that rely on the area’s accessibility. “The Keta-Aflao road is now under serious threat. If nothing is done soon, businesses that depend on this route for transportation and trade could face major disruptions,” he warned.
Despite the looming threat, local businesses have yet to implement any visible measures to counter the crisis. Mr. Degue noted that while government officials, including the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, and NADMO, have provided relief items such as food and blankets, these are merely temporary aids. “The relief items are just survival tools,” Mr. Degue noted. “What we need is a lasting solution, coastal protection measures to stop the sea from swallowing our communities.”
Private companies in the area have also refrained from taking action. “The salt company operates on the lagoon side of Agavedzi, not the seaside, but they have a stake in this community. So far, we haven’t seen any efforts from them to help with the situation,” he said. With businesses at risk of losing assets and supply routes, the lack of corporate intervention is raising concerns among residents, who believe companies profiting from the area should play a role in developing sustainable solutions.
The erosion’s impact extends beyond Agavedzi, affecting the entire Keta-Aflao corridor—a key route for trade and commerce. Although heavy-duty trucks transporting goods such as cocoa do not use the threatened road, smaller businesses and local traders rely on it for their daily operations. “This is not just a community issue; it’s an economic issue,” Mr. Degue emphasized. “If this road is lost, access to markets, suppliers, and customers will be severely impacted.”
The crisis has reignited calls for the completion of the long-delayed Keta Sea Defense Project. The first phase, completed in 2016, provided some protection; however, the second phase—intended to cover Agavedzi, Salakope, and other areas—has yet to commence. Mr. Degue urged that the president takes action as soon as possible to deal with the problem. “The President must act now. This is a national disaster. Coastal protection measures must be deployed immediately to prevent the sea from claiming more land,” he urged. “In the short term, affected residents must be relocated to safer areas, while long-term solutions must be implemented.
“We need urgent intervention, not just from the government but from private sector players who have a stake in this region,” Mr. Degue urged. “Businesses must step up and be part of the solution. They cannot operate in isolation while the community around them is sinking.”
He also warned that action must be taken quickly before the onset of the rainy season to avert further losses to homes and businesses. Without immediate intervention, not only will residences be lost, but enterprises that rely on the region’s stability may face severe disruptions, further weakening the local economy. While no lives have been reportedly lost, Mr. Degue noted that cemeteries have been overtaken by the raging sea, gradually washing away the town, and some tombs have been opened, with human bones floating all over.
