While growing up as a teenager in Cape Coast, we were attending church services in the OLA College and one of the most enjoyable things we used to do with our priest, the College Chaplain was taking long walks along the stretch from the OLA junction all the way to the then Central Hospital. Rev. Fr. Isidore Kowalksi, SJ in particular enjoyed those walks in the shady coconut trees.
I also recall that during my Day Student days in Augusco, I always enjoyed the long walk from UCC New Site all the way to the college walking under the shady coconut trees along the old Cape Coast-Elmina Road. Occasionally when one wanted to feel the breeze of the Atlantic Ocean, he or she had to walk down to the sandy beach to do so. It took about seven minutes walk to get down to the beach which was very tidy, naturally maintained.
Since relocatating from the city, I have remained a regular visitor to Cape Coast for many years. Any time I drove along the OLA-Augusco stretch, I got worried about how fast the once beautiful beach front was eroding and getting depleted. All of a sudden, the distance from the road to the shoreline no longer took seven minutes but only some one to two minutes. I’m aware of the sea defence project currently ongoing between Elmina and Cape Coast and how that will help protect the shoreline.
One other very worrying issue along the stretch is the siting of pubs, restaurants and jamming spots. Until the mid-1990s, the beach stretch was completely devoid of any structures. It was all breezy and serene enabling residents to freely enjoy the beauty and splendour. Then came Da Breeze Restaurant /Pub at the corner of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a dacade and half or so ago. This was not located as close to the beach front, so it appeared pretty much okay. A few other eateries and pubs popped up along the Elmina stretch opposite the Duakor Ewe settlements followed up by a few at the OLA portion of the road over time.
I was in Cape Coast a few days back. As I drove along the stretch, it suddenly dawned on me that some developers had taken over the entire shoreline. Scores of all kinds of pubs and restaurants (numbering more than fifteen) have all of a sudden sprang up from the corner of the OLA College of Education all the way to the junction of the Archbishop’s Residence and even beyond towards St. Augustine’s College.
How on earth could the Ghana Tourism Authority, Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, the Oguamanhen, and all others sit aloof and watch such negative developments to go on. The speed with which these developments are being undertaken creates a certain impression as though someone is pursuing them and they need to complete them speedily. The more I think of these developments, the more I find this phenomenon absolutely unthinkable!
Have they forgotten that the siting of these facilities, beyond the environmental issues will also create huge disciplinary challenges for students of the seven educational institutions located along the stretch?
Some times, one wonders the kind of factors that our leaders take into consideration before taking such very critical decisions such as these.
It’s about time that our leaders woke up to the challenges that confront our society. A stitch in time saves nine!
My dear friend,