Elmina, June 28, GNA - The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, on Tuesday cut the sod for the start of a 12 million Euros (15 million US dollars) Benya Lagoon restoration project at Elmina.

The project, which is being funded with 'concessionality' funds in the form of export credit and a state loan by the Belgium government, is scheduled for completion in June 2007.

It is expected to facilitate a safe entrance of fishing fleet comprising 700 visiting and 500 local vessels.

It precedes the construction of a proposed fishing harbour in the town and involves the deepening of the harbour area from the lagoon mouth and entrance channel behind the breakwater.

It also involves the repair of the existing breakwater to improve safety of the fishing fleet by installing a new armour layer. Mr Owusu-Agyemang told the chiefs and people of the area that the signing of the loan agreement for the project redeemed the pledge made by the President to the people of Elmina to provide them with a fishing harbour and that the lagoon restoration project was the first phase towards that.

He commended the chief of the Edina traditional area, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, for his zeal and commitment in ensuring the commencement of the project.

The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, reiterated the determination of the government to keep faith with the people and assured them that the sod-cutting ceremony was not just a hoax, but for the actual start of the project.

He appealed to the people to help ensure the success of the project. He tasked the chiefs to help enhance investment by releasing land and expressed regret that some people had prevented investors from entering properly acquired sites, driving away projects that would have come to the region.

Nana Conduah expressed gratitude to the government and appealed to the contractors, Dredging International NV of Belgium, to recruit local labour for the project. as a means of providing employment for the youth in the area. 27 June 06