March 26, 2026 A group of Assembly Members along the coastal belt in Ellembelle have, as a matter of urgency, made a passionate appeal to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to revisit the Zoil and Eco-Brigade initiatives to clear sargassum seaweed along the western shores, which has become predominant in the Nzema coastal area.
“The current surge in seaweed growth along our coast has devastated the livelihoods of our fishermen and fishmongers, leading to increased youth unemployment and, regrettably, a rise in illegal activities.”
According to the Assembly Members, “these seaweeds have entangled fishing nets, reduced fish catches, and made it difficult for our people to make ends meet. The impact is felt across the board, with many families struggling to access basic necessities.”
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Hon. Shaibu Issaka, former Presiding Member of the Ellembelle District Assembly and District Director of the Complementary Education Agency, and addressed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. The statement was also copied to the District Chief Executive, Hon. Joseph Armah Agyekum, and the media at Kamgbunli in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The statement noted that, as a result of the sargassum seaweed outbreak, many youth in the area have resorted to illegal activities, including small-scale mining (galamsey) and risky okada riding, which are claiming the lives of many young people in Nzema.
The group humbly requested the urgent intervention of Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, to address the issue.
On the way forward the group suggested the revival of the Zoil and Eco-Brigade initiatives to clear seaweed along the shores, the provision of alternative livelihood support for affected fishermen, the implementation of community-led conservation initiatives, as well as the donation of foodstuffs to affected communities.
The group believes that Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah “can use his Ministry to make a significant difference in restoring the livelihoods of the people and promoting sustainable development in Nzemaland a legacy he left behind as the then Minister for Energy and Petroleum.”
By Nzema Today
