$150M WACA project commences as VRA is directed to dredge silted estuary

Added: 2026-04-29

[00:03:10]happened with the sea uh breaking through.

[00:03:14]And so, today we decided to come and take a look at what is happening.

[00:03:20]All this area is part of a project area that is called Waka.

[00:03:27]And it's a World Bank uh project.

[00:03:30]Um we already have done some work ourselves.

[00:03:34]Earlier, when I was president, we did the Gleotoko sea defense, all that area.

[00:03:40]Before that, Rawlings' government had done sea defense. And then, we also uh started did the Kusu one. And then, Ble Kusu two is currently ongoing.

[00:03:53]The rest of the coast is supposed to be covered by the World Bank $150 million Waka project. And that includes this area all the way to Ketu uh south and pass over Angloga.

[00:04:07]And so, as the uh minister told you, um there's going to be sea defense, and they're also going to be groynes built into the sea to break the the currents, the strong waves, so that it'll come back to the coast in a very gentle manner. They'll also be planting of coconut trees on the beaches in order to stabilize the the soil. They would also help with planting of mangroves in the estuary to defend the land against the sea's encroachment.

[00:04:39]The project stalled for a while uh in 2024, mainly because of the elections.

[00:04:45]And then, when we came, we continued it.

[00:04:47]And so, I'm happy to announce that the feasibility study is finished.

[00:04:51]They are at the design stage. After the design stage, they'll do the procurement. That is, the actual construction of the Waka And so, I'm sure that very soon, we'll try and speed it up. Very soon, you'll see that work will start on your coastal um area.

[00:05:09]We tried to repurpose some of the World Bank projects.

[00:05:13]But as the minister said, we protected the $150 million that is meant for the Waka project. So, your money is safe, and the project is going to go on. Some of the other World Bank projects stalled, and the money is being repurposed for other important priorities.

[00:05:31]And so, I just want to ask for your cooperation as we continue the processes to do the work. But in the meantime, we will contact VRA to see if they can do some dredging in the main estuary so that it eases the pressure on this side.

[00:05:48]Normally, when the estuary is silted, then it looks for ways to join to the sea in other places. That is what is happening exactly here. But if we dredge it, it allows more water to flow out of the Volta into the sea. So, we'll take immediate measures to try and reduce the effect. But the long-term solution is the World Bank uh project which we're about to start. And so, let me thank you uh very much for your patience and your tolerance.