Kenneth Kabu Kanor seeks permanent engineering for Ada East tidal waves

The Ada East District Chief Executive (DCE), Kenneth Kabu Kanor, has called for a permanent engineering solution to combat recurring tidal wave damage along the district’s coastline. Speaking on the severity of sea erosion, Kanor emphasized that temporary measures are no longer sustainable and continue to place an intolerable strain on the assembly’s limited resources. The communities of Azankpe, Kewunor, and Ayigboe have been identified as the most severely affected areas, requiring urgent and long-term infrastructural intervention.

The financial burden of managing these environmental challenges has coincided with a sharp decline in the assembly's revenue. According to Kanor, the district’s revenue has dropped significantly from GH₵2.9 million last year to approximately GH₵1.4 million. This fiscal contraction has limited the assembly's capacity to respond to the crisis, prompting the DCE to advocate for increased government funding and more robust sea defense projects that move beyond short-term fixes.

Beyond the immediate threat of erosion, the district is also facing economic hurdles regarding its industrial projects. Kanor highlighted that a salt factory project, initiated under the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) program, remains incomplete. While the assembly faces geographical constraints that limit its direct revenue from salt production, there is a renewed push to attract private investment to finish the factory and stimulate the local economy.

To address the revenue shortfall and fund development, the Ada East District Assembly is now focusing on property revaluation as a strategy to enhance internal revenue mobilization. Kanor expressed hope that a combination of improved local collection, private sector partnership, and national government support for coastal engineering will provide a sustainable path forward for the district’s vulnerable communities.