Tema (GAR), July 7, A number of organisations are contributing towards repair works on the Tema-Sakumono beach road which has been closed to traffic since last month following torrential rains. The Tema Development Corporation (TDC) has given 20 million cedis, the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) has donated 10 million Cedis while Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) is assisting with 50 tonnes of cement (1,000 bags) and a truck for the project. Mr. Emmanuel Ofoe, Tema Municipal Co-ordinating Director, disclosed this to the GNA when he inspected work on the building of an additional storm drain on the beach road today. The new storm drain will serve as a second outlet for the discharge of water from the lagoon into the sea during flooding. The project, estimated to cost over 270 million cedis is being undertaken by Construction Pioneers (CP) Limited. Mr. Ofoe said the Tema Municipal Assembly is still looking for funds for the project and appealed to other industrial and business establishments in the Tema Municipality and Accra to contribute financially or in kind towards the project. The contractors say they will construct a temporary bailey bridge for pedestrians only who still use the road. Mr. Ebenezer Ayi-Bonte, Managing Director of the TDC, reiterated the need to desilt the Sakumo Lagoon to enable it to contain more water ''to prevent this kind of flooding''. He said looking at the alarming rate at which the lagoon is being silted, the next five years could be dangerous for residents nearby if the lagoon is not desilted.

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