Togo Clears Land For Coastal Protection Project WACA ResIP

Public works

Monday, 19 January 2026 13:08

Togo Clears Land For Coastal Protection Project WACA ResIP

(Togo First) - Authorities in southern Togo have cleared land and paid compensation to allow construction of three groynes on a two-kilometre stretch of coastline, as contractors race to meet a Nov. 15, 2026 deadline under the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP).

The clearance of right-of-way between Nimania and Alogavi, along with about 350 million CFA francs ($575,000) in compensation payments to affected residents, has cleared the way for work in Adjissem, which is now included in coastal protection works on the Bodjome-Agbodrafo-Goumoukope section.

The three groynes planned for this erosion-prone part of the Lacs coastline account for nearly 14% of the 22 structures in the programme. Groynes are structures built perpendicular to the shore to reduce erosion by trapping sand carried by currents.

The development comes as Boskalis International has 10 months to complete 14 remaining structures and meet the contractual deadline. The Adjissem segment is considered particularly exposed to wave and current action.

“In Adjissem, the shoreline has moved more than 40 metres inland over the past two years, compared with less than 20 metres projected in the study,” a programme technical manager said.

Backing from fishing communities

Project officials said backing from the fishing community, following completion of the compensation process, removed a key social hurdle that had weighed on the schedule. Project figures show 99% of residents support completion of the works in the area.

The project will need to speed up in the coming months. With physical progress at 28% while 39% of the scheduled time has already passed, Boskalis must step up construction to deliver the remaining groynes before mid-November 2026. The Dutch firm is already familiar with the Togolese coast, having carried out previous major coastal protection works.

As of Jan. 9, 2026, five groynes had been completed and signed off, and three more were under construction, including one at the midpoint, according to information shared by the programme.

Work has now started on eight of the 22 groynes planned, marking steady progress since construction began on Oct. 29, 2025.

“We keep full records of every handover, from the quarry to completion of these groynes,” said Albert Limasier, deputy head of mission for the INROS-Lackner control mission.

Deadline pressure

Meeting the Nov. 15, 2026 deadline will be a key test of Togo’s ability to protect its coastline over the long term from increasing risks of erosion and flooding, while safeguarding the economic activities of coastal communities.

Bringing Adjissem into active construction is seen as a positive signal. The segment initially required a revision of the Resettlement Action Plan due to rapid shoreline movement and the density of fishing activity.

In total, 33 billion CFA francs have been mobilised for the 18-month project, which aims to strengthen protection of the Togolese coastline. Beyond the 22 groynes, the programme also includes backfilling lagoon channels and planting coconut trees across 10 hectares in Aneho.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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