AGAVEDZI

A storm tide with high waves hit the small fishermen community of Agavedzi in early 2025. The sea demolished a number of buildings on the unprotected stretches of the coast, and locals lost their livelihoods. The interview with a fisherman stresses the destructiveness of the tidal waves for the people‘s buildings and bearings.

What happend | Impacts and affectedness  | Coping and adaptation strategies

What happened? Course of the events

An eye-witness reports how the tidal waves hit Agavedzi beach and his home with a vigour that he had not seen before in his 62-year life

“Two weeks ago, the tidal waves cleared most of our homes away.”
“The sea started beating into the land, eroding the houses away from 2016 until now.”

Dialog mit Rudith King

– “When it happened, how many people were affected like you?”
– “About hundreds of people.”
– “So where have they gone now?”
– “They go and sleep with their sisters or brothers at Kota.”
– “Where is Kota?”
– “Over the lagoon there.”

After the flood: Impacts and affectedness

The aftermath of the catastrophic tide began with an inspection of the damages and a counting of losses. Homes were destroyed and partly washed into the sea, and livelihoods were severely affected. Fishing became difficult because the sharp edges of the ruins cut into the fisherman‘s net every time he lands a haul. Everyday life was no longer the same, it left deep traces in the built as well as in the individual‘s structures. He waited long for help, which has in the meantime arived.

“The sea defense is the only protection which has been done to this area.”
“The sea is not producing we don’t catch anything. When we drag our nets to the shore, they hang because the buildings are in the sea.”

How to Deal? - Coping and adaptation strategies

The disaster cannot be undone, so what to learn from it? Help arrived late. The delay should be considered for future action plans and coping strategies. There is a need for improved catastrophe management and better measures for flood protection. The fisherman hopes to reclaim his home once the repairs of the sea protection have been finished.

“Others from the community don’t have anything to help us, because we all depend on the sea, and the sea is not producing anything.”
“To help the community? There is nothing done as such, even as relief items.”

Dialog mit Rudith King

-“Some church members came.”
-“Church members?”
-“And also the regional minister came. The president also came.”
-“The President of Ghana?”
-“Yes.”

“My future if the sea defense someday is done and we reclaim our lands, then we can stay here.”
“If we see the sea defense is done and we reclaim our lands, then they will come back.”