The Deputy Transport Minister, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus Glover, has cut sod for the commencement of the reconstruction of the damaged Chemu Lagoon Trapezoid drain and estuary abutment.

The Chemu Lagoon which previously held economic and cultural value to the people of Tema has for years been in a deplorable state as a result of degrading human activities such as the dumping of domestic and industrial waste in the water body.

In order to salvage the situation and restore the lagoon to its original form, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has funded the reconstruction of the damaged Chemu Lagoon Trapezoid drain and estuary abutment which cost over GHS 7.5 million.

Hydronomics Limited, a Ghanaian-owned company has been contracted to undertake the reconstruction works and the project is scheduled to be completed in 6 months.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Transport, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwatei Titus-Glover praised GPHA’s role in contributing massively to the development agenda of the Tema township.

“GPHA is doing wonderfully well for our people. They are funding the construction of the Manhean Park. Today, they are also funding for this big investment for us because the Chemu Lagoon serves serious purposes,” he expressed.

He cautioned industries and individuals alike to shun activities that degrade the lagoon hinting at severe penalties for offenders.

“Anybody who flouts the assembly’s by-laws will be dealt with,” he warned.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema, Felix Nii Anang-La, who also praised GPHA’s effort to restore the Chemu Lagoon, a once fishing haven, revealed that the Metropolitan Assembly in collaboration with industries operating within the Tema Metropolis have invested towards waste water treatment to eradicate pollution in the city.

“The Tema Metropolitan Assembly recently signed MOU with the city of Aarhus in Denmark waste water treatment. The partnership will among other things build the assembly’s capacity to be able to better manage waste water,” he said.

The Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, in a speech read on his behalf, stated that the Port Authority is committed to ploughing back some of its profits into the socio-economic development of the Tema community which has created the atmosphere for the Port industry to thrive.

“The people of Newtown and the projects associated with it are very dear to the hearts of the Director-General. This project has been earmarked to be built by the port’s authority as our corporate social responsibility towards this community,” he said.

Naa Ameley Asiedu, Human Resource Manager of Hydronomics Ltd, the contracted company undertaking the reconstruction project assured to include a major part of the people of the Chemu Community during the construction works.

“We are looking at bringing on board all other people to help. We will reduce the number of our workers so that we can bring workers from the Chemu community to help,” she assured.

The traditional authorities of Tema received the project with great pleasure.