Tidal waves have destroyed more than 200 hundreds of homes within the last two to three decades at Ekon, a fishing settlement in the Cape Coast metropolis of the Central Region.
Sadly all calls made to those supposed to help address the situation have fallen on deaf ears. In light of this, the town chief, Nana Edu Ababio II, has once again pleaded with the government and all stakeholders to construct a sea defense and breakwaters for the area.
Nana Edu Ababio II cried for help when he addressed a durbar to climax the annual Apayem festival in the area. The festival was under the theme “Development in Ekon: Time is Now”.
The Apayem festival is an ancestral festival aimed at paying homage to heroes and heroines for sacrifices made in developing the area. The colorful celebration began with a procession of chiefs and people from the Oguaa Senior High Technical School premises to the durbar grounds where the main event was held.
After pouring a libation to the deities and ancestors of the area for the support accorded them, Nana Edu Ababio II expressed regret that the devastating effects of the tidal waves have continued to destroy over 200 houses. However, all efforts channeled through stakeholders in the area to address the problem have proved futile.
Nana Edu Ababio II was unhappy about the situation in that, all neighboring communities like Moree, Cape Coast, and Elmina have had their shares of the national cake as they have been provided with landing sites, sea defense systems, and breakwaters, but the Ekon community, also ravaged by the tidal waves, was neglected, resulting in hundreds of fishermen and fishmongers in the area deserting the town.
He also disclosed that the deserting fisherfolks abandon their fatherly responsibilities as they relocate far away to continue with the fishing expedition, leaving their wives and children behind. As a result of the economic difficulties and distant relationships, most marriages in the community have either been rocked with extra-marital affairs or separation.
To avoid such problems aggravating, he pleaded with the Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, to facilitate the breakwaters and sea defense construction at Ekon.
Independent parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast South Constituency Perry Mensah pledged to offer ten young people scholarships to pursue ICT education. He pleaded with the electorates to vote massively in the December 7 polls to choose him above the NDC and NPP parliamentary aspirants.
