- Title: GHANA: PEOPLE OF KETA FIGHT GRIM BATTLE TO SAVE TOWNSHIP FROM ADVANCING SEA.
- Date: 31st August 1976
- Summary: 1. GV Beach at Keta 0.06 2. GV Fishermen and children pulling ropes to hold wooden wall in place 0.10 3. GV Sea pounding against wall (4 shots) 0.32 4. GV Deserted buildings near beach (4 shots) 0.46 5. SV Workers clearing sand off road 0.54 6. SV & GV Wall on beach at Keta 1.04 Initials BB/1950 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 15th September 1976 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KETA, GHANA
- Country: Ghana
- Reuters ID: LVADUFP19ERBME1K6B30TD1OTCAA
- Story Text: The people of Keta, in the Volta region of Ghana, are fighting a grim battle to save their town from the ever-advancing sea.
SYNOPSIS: Keta was originally built on a sandbar extending for four miles (6.4 kilometres) from a lagoon across to the coast. But since 1905 more than a mile has been reclaimed by the angry ocean. Numerous sea walls have been built, but all have failed to arrest the relentless erosion. In the latest bid to save their town people are working alongside Public Works personnel to fill the beach with rocks which will be the foundation for a new wall.
Already 8,000 homes and buildings have been destroyed. Others still stand--unsafe but inhabited by elderly people who refuse to move. In fact the majority of the population has rejected the option of resettlement on higher ground. Roads too have suffered from the watery onslaught and a lot of money is spent each year to keep them useable. But despite the problems the people are determined to stay and fight, for they're mainly fishermen and to live on the coast is a necessity.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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